PHOENIX (Sept. 8, 2025) – Grand Canyon University Esports is joining the Mountain West Conference for the 2025-26 competitive season, marking a new era of growth and high-level competition. MW, which officially sanctioned esports in 2017-18, has built one of the nation’s most competitive collegiate landscapes, one that GCU is eager to join.
“GCU Esports has always been about more than just playing the game, it’s about building culture, accountability and a community of fans who live and breathe esports,” said Jay DeShong, GCU’s Director of Esports Operations. “Joining the Mountain West puts us on the biggest stage we’ve ever been on.”
The addition of GCU strengthens MW’s growing esports lineup and reflects the momentum collegiate gaming has built.
“We are proud to welcome Grand Canyon University’s esports program to the Mountain West,” said MW Commissioner Gloria Nevarez. “GCU brings elite-level competition, cutting-edge production capabilities, and a vibrant community of student-athletes who embody the spirit of competitive excellence. This expansion reflects our commitment to embracing the future of intercollegiate athletics — where esports plays a vital role in developing leadership and teamwork while enhancing school and conference pride. GCU’s esports presence strengthens our conference and reinforces the Mountain West as a national leader in the collegiate esports landscape.”
GCU Esports will compete in MW for both VALORANT and Rocket League at the varsity level. The program will continue to support a wide slate of club-level titles, including Fortnite, Apex, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Valorant, Call of Duty, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Super Smash Bros., Marvel Rivals and Rainbow Six Siege.
This season also brings major program milestones. GCU has hired its first full-time esports head coach, Matthew Calderwood, who will oversee all varsity and club operations. In addition, the university is awarding robust scholarships for 2025-26, supporting not only players but also student leaders, community managers and ambassadors.
GCU Esports kicks off its MW schedule on September 8 at 8 p.m. with a high-energy matchup against San Jose State University. The match will stream live on Twitch, YouTube and the Mountain West Network. On campus, students will gather for an official watch party as GCU builds what it calls the first true physical fandom in collegiate esports, giving students a game-day atmosphere unlike anything else in college gaming.
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About Grand Canyon University: Grand Canyon University was founded in 1949 and is Arizona’s premier private Christian university. GCU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and offers 353 academic programs, emphases and certificates for both traditional undergraduate students and working professionals. The University’s curriculum emphasizes interaction with classmates, both in-person and online, and individual attention from instructors while fusing academic rigor with Christian values to help students find their purpose and become skilled, caring professionals. For more information, visit gcu.edu.
