JAMESTOWN, NY - "It's a dream come true," said new Jamestown Community College eSports head coach James DiBlasi on his taking the controls of the Jayhawks.

DiBlasi is an Olean native and JCC alum who started gaming on a competitive level in seventh grade. He was severely bitten by the gamer bug in eighth grade when he talked his dad into taking him to a national Halo tournament held in Chicago, where he placed in the top 32. "It (playing video games) has always been my thing since I was in middle school, so I am really excited."

DiBlasi saw his greatest success come during his time as a Jayhawk. He won the title of District Champion in Halo, representing all of Western New York. James would later finish fourth of 64 in a national Halo charity event for Susan G Koman's Breast Cancer awareness.

"James has a passion for eSports that will be of high value for all of Jamestown Community College. His knowledge and desire to lead the next generatiion of Jayhawk gamers is something we couldn't pass up," said JCC athletic director George Sisson.

That enthusiasm for playing turned into one for coaching in December of 2021 when his wife's grandma passed, and his time to dedicate to gaming dwindled. However, it showed James the other side of the sport and fueled his passion for coaching. While coaching Team KGK in the Premiere Halo Championship League, DiBlasi's team finished as the Division Three Champions.

James is now pumped to be behind the sticks of the JCC program, "I think JCC has a great foundation to get something started here. A program like this, especially one that comes with a complex that houses a private team room and an arena to host larger events, is something I could have only dreamed of when I was younger." Sisson added, "Jamestown Community College is excited to move forward with our eSports program and start to fully utilize the equipment and facilities the Olean campus has to offer."

This moment, as the head of his own collegiate program, is a lifelong goal accomplished for DiBlasi. "It is a dream come true for me personally to be part of this."

The joy for a personal milestone, though, is dwarfed by his eagerness to mold future waves of gamers in our area, "I am honestly equally and perhaps more excited for current students and the next generation of players we can farm from our community. To have a program is one thing, but to have the commitment from the college to have a state-of-the-art venue to have it in leads to infinite possibilities."

JCC will be competing in the NJCAA eSports league in the spring of 2024 season. For more information contact Jonathan Kowal at 716-338-7535 or JonathanKowal@mail.sunyjcc.edu