McMurry University Athletics found its first Esports head coach on May 22, 2019, as former Vice President of Student Affairs and Intercollegiate Athletics Sam Ferguson named Matt Tarpley to the position.
Ferguson didn't have to look very far to find Tarpley, who was an Infrastructure Support Technician for Merkel ISD, a position he held since 2014.
In three years as a program, McMurry Esports has sponsored teams in Rocket League, Overwatch, League of Legends and Valorant. The third year brought even more growth with more games and a number of opportunities for students to get involved. He has also implemented a Valkyrie team, has allowed students to stream their own games on Twitch and has had students provide play-by-play audio of games.The Esports program has also had national exposure on the Collegiate Star League official Twitch TV channel, which has 15,000 followers, with a match against Tulsa on December 2, 2020. In those three years, Tarpley has guided the Rocket League team and Valorant team to playoff appearances.
Tarpley has also helped raised over $1,000 for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals and for Hendrick Children's Hospital through the McMurry Esports platform, holding an annual Twitch marathon that includes guest gamers and guest interviews in an effort to raise money for the cause. Tarpley is a member of Esports for Education and has watched over 1000 hours of professional and Tier 2 Overwatch, which consists of League, World Cup and Contenders. He has researched numerous leagues' documentation, including league rules and curriculum resources.
One aspect of Esports is that it focuses on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics), which Tarpley understands and promotes in his coaching.
"The Esports industry is a very sophisticated entity," Tarpley explained. "It marries complex technology with sports entertainment and infuses it all with a unique take on social engagement. I am actually teaching an advanced marketing class that revolves entirely around the Esports industry at Merkel High School."
Tarpley is also a SilphRoad Guide in the Abilene area for Pokemon Go, a grassroots network of gamers that organize events at a local level. In 2014, Tarpley spent the year as an Information Technology intern with the City of Abilene, deploying new computers, using SCCM to image software and working at the help desk, using Dameware for remote assistance.
Prior to working as an intern and for Merkel, Tarpley spent three years as a Certified Nurse's Aide at Hendrick Medical Center. He graduated with Honors from Texas State Technical College in 2014 with an AAS in Computer Networking and Computer Administration, and earned a bachelor's degree in International Business and Asian Studies from Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia in 2007.
