UNF: Gaming fanatic and scholar leads UNF Esports program

With a decade of expertise within the esports business and years instructing esports on the school stage, Tom Screech has constructed a profession within the worlds of aggressive gaming, enterprise and better training. 

This spring, he introduced his experience to the University of North Florida as its first esports program supervisor, main the launch of the UNF Flight Deck Esports & Innovation Arena and laying the muse for UNF Esports crew’s official launch. 

Since its grand opening in February, the Flight Deck has welcomed greater than 2,300 guests by its doorways. It’s a powerful begin for UNF Esports, which Screech goals to assist set up as a premier program within the collegiate esports panorama. 

Screech and his crew plan and host aggressive highschool and collegiate gaming tournaments in addition to welcoming roughly 70 each day guests by the state-of-the-art Flight Deck, ideally situated inside of the John A. Delaney Student Union, simply down the corridor from The Boathouse. The Flight Deck was constructed with monetary assist from the City of Jacksonville.  

In addition to gaming, Screech stated college students are welcome to use the ability’s 42 high-powered PC stations to work on class assignments. 

“If students have a project and need to code on our PCs or use them for 3D modeling, they can do so.” 

While UNF’s esports program builds on college students’ curiosity in gaming, it additionally connects that zeal to profession pathways in science, know-how, engineering and math, in addition to in recreation growth, esports administration and broadcasting. 

The Love of Gaming

A local of Plymouth, England, Screech grew to become fascinated with taking part in video video games at a younger age, the place he felt a way of neighborhood and belonging realizing that anybody can benefit from the enjoyable of gaming.  

“Gaming is a great equalizer,” stated Screech. “No matter what capabilities you’re born with, in the virtual world, everyone starts the same.” 

RuneScape is his all-time favourite recreation, however he additionally enjoys quite a lot of others, together with World of Warcraft, League of Legends, Rocket League, Counter-Strike and Valorant. 

Screech’s love of gaming continued all through his teenagers, typically honing his abilities by taking part in with associates and competing in on-line tournaments. 

When he enrolled in school on the University of Plymouth, he determined to main in recreation design and manufacturing, ultimately incomes his bachelor’s diploma in 2017. 

Through his coursework and participation in varied tournaments, he developed a passion for the advertising and marketing facet of esports gaming. 

“Every project always needed a project manager,” stated Screech. “That was the role I always filled in, and so that was my way of working with games. I focused on the business and marketing side of gaming.” 

Move to the U.S., Work Experience and Teaching

Faced with restricted alternatives for employment within the gaming business whereas residing in England, Screech labored in enterprise growth and advertising and marketing for varied firms. 

In 2019, he moved to the United States for a job alternative and enrolled at Notre Dame of Maryland University, incomes an MBA in 2021. He continued taking part in tournaments and started volunteering with esports firms, making sturdy connections throughout the business. 

While finishing his grasp’s diploma, he interned with an esports firm and ultimately was employed by Playfly College Esports as their partnerships supervisor. 

In fall 2021, he started instructing a sponsorships course at Harrisburg University of Science and Technology as an adjunct school member. In 2023, he grew to become a full-time school member instructing varied programs, utilizing esports as the main focus. 

“I developed and taught classes on sponsorships, live event management, marketing and branding, all within the landscape of esports,” Screech stated. 

He additionally helped with Harrisburg’s esports membership program, the place he oversaw their transition to junior varsity standing and labored with their varsity groups. It is thought-about one of many high collegiate packages within the nation, typically competing for nationwide championships. Screech is dedicated to contributing to that very same success at UNF. 

In addition to instructing, Screech co-founded the Collegiate Fighting Game Conference (CFGC), a number one group for college-level combating video games and serves on the chief board of College Esports News (CEN), a centralized supply for collegiate gaming information, scores and updates. 

Joining UNF

While working at Harrisburg, Screech discovered UNF was constructing an esports facility and hiring an esports program supervisor. As he reviewed the necessities for the function and discovered extra about UNF, he determined to use in fall 2025. 

“I saw the job posting and thought it was a great opportunity, but I never thought of living in Florida,” stated Screech. “The more I looked into UNF, the more I realized this school is incredible.” 

He acquired and accepted the provide to work at UNF in December 2025 and arrived on campus in early February. 

When viewing The Flight Deck for the primary time, Screech says he was blown away by the design — likening the expertise to “feeling like a kid whose been given the world’s greatest playground.” 

Now Screech is trying ahead to the official launch of UNF Esports in fall 2026. The Overwatch varsity crew will start competing in varied leagues, and they will begin broadcasting streams often. The program is already making nice progress heading into the autumn. Varsity Overwatch crew member and head coach Justin Tuazon was chosen to play for the Philippines nationwide crew within the Overwatch World Cup in August. 

Thanks to Screech’s involvement with the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE), UNF will host the group’s national convention from July 29–31. 

Screech is grateful for the assist UNF Esports has acquired from campus, neighborhood and business companions and is able to information this system to nice success. 

“We have everything we could ever want to have a fantastic program,” stated Screech. “It is only fitting that we return the favor and build the best program in the country. That’s my goal, 100%.” 

Learn extra about UNF Esports and upcoming occasions.