Doc Haskell - Esports Coach - Boise State University Athletics

Doc Haskell

Title:
Associate Clinical Professor & Head Coach
Email:
chrishaskell@boisestate.edu
Phone:
208-426-4217
Alma Mater:
Boise State University

Dr. Chris “Doc” Haskell enters the 2025-26 academic year in his ninth season as head coach of Boise State varsity esports. Appointed to the role in 2017, Haskell has been the central architect behind the program’s rise into one of the most respected and accomplished collegiate esports organizations in the country. In addition to his coaching duties, Haskell has served as the director of Boise State esports since the program’s inception, helping position the Broncos as an early leader among FBS institutions in the varsity esports space. Charles Christopher Haskell, commonly known as Doc Haskell, is an American collegiate esports coach and researcher whose work sits at the intersection of competitive excellence, education, and professional development. A member of Boise State’s faculty since 2007, Haskell’s approach to esports has consistently extended beyond match results, emphasizing the holistic development of players, casters, production staff, and future esports professionals. Since taking over the program in 2017, Haskell has compiled a career head coaching record of 1,560–687, good for a .694 winning percentage. Over that span, Boise State has grown from a fledgling varsity program into a national power, earning championships across multiple titles while maintaining consistent national relevance in Overwatch, Rocket League, and Valorant. Boise State’s championship résumé under Haskell includes the PlayVS Overwatch National Championship (2020), NACE Overwatch National Championship (2021), NACE Madden National Championship (2021), PlayVS Madden National Championship (2021), PEC Overwatch 2 National Championship (2025), and PEC Rocket League National Championship (2025). The breadth of those titles—spanning multiple governing bodies and game titles—underscores the program’s ability to sustain excellence across rapidly evolving competitive ecosystems. That competitive success has been paired with sustained recognition of Haskell’s leadership at the national level. He was named College Esports Coach of the Year by the National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors (2020) and Collegiate Director of the Year by the National Association of Collegiate Esports (2020). In 2021, he earned Collegiate Ambassador of the Year honors from the Esports Awards, followed by Best College Esports Director recognition from the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Council (CECC) in 2022. More recently, Haskell was named Mountain West Overwatch 2 Coach of the Year and PEC Overwatch 2 Coach of the Year in 2025, and was a finalist for Collegiate Esports Awards Director of the Year in 2024. Year by year, Boise State’s competitive growth under Haskell has been marked by both scale and consistency. After a developmental inaugural season in 2017-18, the program quickly expanded its competitive footprint, posting triple-digit win totals annually and peaking with a 353–109 campaign in 2021-22. Even as the program matured and competitive structures evolved, Boise State continued to produce elite results, including a 208–53 record in 2023-24 and championship-level performances in 2024-25 and 2025-26. Haskell’s impact, however, extends beyond wins and trophies. His tenure has been defined by intentional program design—integrating competitive preparation with academic rigor and professional skill-building. Under his leadership, Boise State esports has become a training ground not only for high-level competitors, but also for broadcasters, analysts, producers, and leaders within the collegiate esports ecosystem. Haskell graduated from Sam Barlow High School in 1989 before attending Chemeketa Community College. He transferred to Boise State University in 1990, where he later earned a Bachelor of Music degree (2000). He went on to complete a master’s degree in educational technology (2007) and a Doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction (2012). That academic foundation has heavily influenced his coaching philosophy, blending performance coaching with instructional design, feedback systems, and long-term player development. Born in San Rafael, California, Haskell and his wife, Ali, reside in Boise. The two met through Boise State cheerleading, where Doc served as Buster Bronco and Ali was a cheerleader. They have been married for 32 years and have four children and four grandchildren. Outside of esports and academia, Haskell is an avid cyclist. Doc Haskell Coaching and Leadership Timeline 2007–Present — Boise State University, Faculty 2017–Present — Boise State University, Head Coach and Director, Varsity Esports