By Jacob Brown, Guest Writer
Newman has a new Esports coach who says he is excited to take on the role but will lead in a different way than might be expected.
Instead of looking for the best players, said new coach Viet Hoang, he wants to help his players become the best at what they do while also helping them develop skills they can use in their careers.
Hoang is from Sioux City, Iowa, but has been in Wichita since 2000. He said he has been in Esports his whole life.
“I've been holding a controller in my hands since I've been able to,” he said.
Hoang also owns a restaurant called Daikon Cafe, 6157 E. Harry, where his mother also works. It serves food from a variety of Asian countries.
Hoang also once owned a gaming cafe in Wichita called Next Level Cafe, but it went out of business in 2021.
Hoang said he heard about the coaching job through a mutual friend he has with former head coach Kurt McDonald, who left Newman after one year leading the team. Newman just added Esports to its roster last year, making it Newman’s 20th sport and the 10th collegiate Esports program in Kansas.
Hoang’s main focus isn't recruiting students who aspire to play video games professionally because, he said, it's difficult to make money playing Esports. Instead, he hopes to host Esports events at Newman and help his players gain skills in broadcasting and marketing, which are real-world experiences that they can put on their resumes.
“The best way to describe that is, for example, the NFL. The players are a small part of the NFL. The majority is broadcasting and marketing, and that's what I'm looking to do here at Newman,” he said.
Freshman Kyle Lang, who is one of the players on the team, said he thinks Hoang is a great coach.
“He does a lot for us and doesn't have that many resources compared to other schools, but he's making do with what he does have and (is) being able to create a foundation with that,” Lang said.
The Esports team is still looking for players to join the team. Those interested should email Hoang at HoangV@Newmanu.edu or go to the Esports room, which is located downstairs in Sacred Heart Hall right across from the mail and copy room.
PHOTO: Courtesy, Unsplash