East Central University Athletics

Cody Soden enters first official season as the Director of Esports at East Central University, where he has been instrumental in expanding and developing the program into a competitive force.
 
After taking over the Director of Alumni Relations position at ECU in March of 2023, Soden’s passion for student engagement and leadership skills led him to swiftly take on a dual role with the Esports program, formally splitting his responsibilities between both positions just three months later.
 
Under his guidance, ECU Esports has rapidly grown from its initial focus on Overwatch and League of Legends to include a diverse range of games such as Fortnite, Street Fighter 6, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, Rocket League, and even Chess.
 
Soden’s leadership comes at a pivotal time for the program, as the Great American Conference (GAC) – the regional athletic conference for all ECU sports – recognizes Esports for the first time in 2024. This recognition not only places ECU among the pioneers of collegiate Esports in the region but also highlights the GAC as only two D2 conferences in the nation to integrate Esports into its competitive offerings.