Boise State Athletics
10/9/2026 10:00:00 AM | Esports
Boise, Idaho — Doc Haskell is stepping down from his role as head coach of Boise State Esports, effective October 16 to focus on a return to the classroom. The first and only coach to lead Boise State Esports, Haskell will finish with more than 1,600 wins and seven national championships.
Haskell founded Boise State Esports in his classroom in 2016 while he was a faculty member of the College of Education on campus. Research led him to the concept of college esports, and at the time, only two other Division I esports programs existed. In his tenure, Haskell oversaw a move first to the library, and then to the current location of the program, at the corner of Front and Capitol. Haskell helped lead the formation of Mountain West Esports as well as the PEC, a first-of-its-kind Division I-focused league. In his 10 years with the program, Haskell oversaw a staggering 2,430 matches. No Division I coach has more games or wins than Haskell, who won 69.4% of his games.
The stretch from 2020-2023 stands as the defining run of Haskell's tenure. Haskell led the program through the COVID-19 pandemic, and helped grow Boise State Esports into a national powerhouse, taking home the program's first four national championships while winning an impressive 806 games. In that stretch, Haskell picked up the NACE Coach of the Year award, Collegiate Ambassador of the Year award and CECC Best College Esports Director award.
Beyond wins, Haskell made waves in the national esports space, pushing for more regulation of competition, an emphasis on bringing athletic culture to esports, and a focus on consistent scheduling and fan engagement. His book, Never Take a Fair Fight, has defined coaching and leadership strategies for coaches across the country, and his adaptation of Urban Meyer's Above the Line philosophy revolutionized esports culture.
Haskell will remain as a special advisor to the program for the remainder of the year. He will begin teaching courses on esports in the Education Technologies department in the spring. Kelsey Moser will step into the role of interim director. Moser, who has been a head coach of multiple professional teams, joined Boise State in 2024 as the assistant coach.
Haskell's Highlights:
- 6x Coach of the Year
- 2021 Collegiate Ambassador of the Year
- 15 Conference Championships
- 3x Overwatch National Championship
- 2x Madden National Championship
- 1x Valorant National Championship
- 1x Rocket League National Championship
Haskell founded Boise State Esports in his classroom in 2016 while he was a faculty member of the College of Education on campus. Research led him to the concept of college esports, and at the time, only two other Division I esports programs existed. In his tenure, Haskell oversaw a move first to the library, and then to the current location of the program, at the corner of Front and Capitol. Haskell helped lead the formation of Mountain West Esports as well as the PEC, a first-of-its-kind Division I-focused league. In his 10 years with the program, Haskell oversaw a staggering 2,430 matches. No Division I coach has more games or wins than Haskell, who won 69.4% of his games.
The stretch from 2020-2023 stands as the defining run of Haskell's tenure. Haskell led the program through the COVID-19 pandemic, and helped grow Boise State Esports into a national powerhouse, taking home the program's first four national championships while winning an impressive 806 games. In that stretch, Haskell picked up the NACE Coach of the Year award, Collegiate Ambassador of the Year award and CECC Best College Esports Director award.
Beyond wins, Haskell made waves in the national esports space, pushing for more regulation of competition, an emphasis on bringing athletic culture to esports, and a focus on consistent scheduling and fan engagement. His book, Never Take a Fair Fight, has defined coaching and leadership strategies for coaches across the country, and his adaptation of Urban Meyer's Above the Line philosophy revolutionized esports culture.
Haskell will remain as a special advisor to the program for the remainder of the year. He will begin teaching courses on esports in the Education Technologies department in the spring. Kelsey Moser will step into the role of interim director. Moser, who has been a head coach of multiple professional teams, joined Boise State in 2024 as the assistant coach.
Haskell's Highlights:
- 6x Coach of the Year
- 2021 Collegiate Ambassador of the Year
- 15 Conference Championships
- 3x Overwatch National Championship
- 2x Madden National Championship
- 1x Valorant National Championship
- 1x Rocket League National Championship
Monday, October 26
Monday, October 26
Monday, October 26
Sunday, October 25
