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Jamestown Community College recently handed the controls of the Jayhawks’ eSports program over to former Jayhawk Eric Caya.
"There are a lot of adjectives I could use to explain my feelings about welcoming Coach (Eric) Caya as the new head of eSports, but I will go with thrilled," said JCC Athletic Director George Sisson. "He's been around the gaming world his entire life and has proven he has the knowledge to succeed both at gaming and team building."
"Did I really just get offered this cool job?" was Caya's initial reaction to being handed the keys to JCC's eSports team. "My dad was a coach, so I am following in his footsteps. I may not be a basketball star, but I know video games, so this will be a lot of fun."
Caya isn’t new to the world of electronic sports; he was Cuba-Rushford’s eSports coach from 2020-26, where his teams won back-to-back BOCES championships with him at the helm. He was also an algebra teacher for the Rebels, so he sees this new adventure as the next block in his expedition.
"I'm excited to try this new chapter," he said with a smile. "I am hoping to have success here and leave an impact for future generations down the road. The thing about education is that it isn't always immediate. I am really excited to see the lasting impact we can have and to be involved in the community."
Caya takes over a program that was rebooted in 2022, one he believes has state-of-the-art facilities housed in the JCC Cattaraugus Campus’ eSports arena.
"I don't have to build anything from the ground up," he said. "I see the potential of what is there. There is a lot of space and equipment. We get to utilize the practice room, and it has all the elements needed. I love the big monitors and the open areas. They call it our eSports arena, and with the setup it has that arena feel."
As an educator at heart and a JCC alum in the class of 2008, he sees the value in not just playing eSports for the Jayhawks but exploring the different avenues afforded to students in the modern world.
"You're a student-athlete; come to a community college and get your foot in the door. There are so many great teachers that can help you, and while you are here, you can keep competitive gaming," he said. "Whether that goes beyond here, you'll still get to meet friends and try something on the college level."
Meeting the students where they are is a strength for Caya; even being called the "vibes guy" at Cube-Rushford, he hopes to turn those positive interactions into fruitful relationships with his future Jayhawks.
"I want good individuals who are willing to work hard in their studies and build positive relationships. You don’t have to be a 4.0 student to be successful, but if you develop skills in working hard," he said. "We want kids who not only attack eSports but also their studies. I want kids with a positive attitude and who are ready to have some fun."
Gaming isn’t the only way Caya entertains himself. The Olean resident also loves spending time with his wife Kaityln and their two cats. When he isn’t engulfed in eSports, Caya can be found playing disc golf and hitting the gym.
Caya and the JCC eSports team will take the sticks for the first time next semester.