John Player has been selected as the Esports Graduate Assistant Coach for the 2025-26 season, as announced on Friday.

"John is going to be a great asset to our Esports program," said Esports Coordinator Kadin deRuijter. "He comes to the North Country from Champlain with grit, wisdom, and ambition. Coach Player comes at a perfect time as our varsity program secured its very first Regional Championship last semester. With this momentum we look forward to seeing how Coach Player integrates unique recruiting and coaching strategies into the St. Lawrence culture, in an effort to climb to the next level."

Player joins the Saints from Champlain College where he was the Esports Head Coach, building the Overwatch team into an organization dedicated to an excellence and growth mindset, culminating in regional championship wins and achieving varsity status.

Prior to his time as head coach, Player worked as an Esports Facility Assistant as a work-study opportunity.

He graduated Cum Laude from Champlain College holds a bachelor's degree in professional writing.