Bishop Auckland College

Bishop Auckland College’s esports students have received an invaluable masterclass leading to a unique insight into the mind of a world championship-winning coach.

Pictures: BAC

Ehsan Javaid, widely known in the esports community as DREAL, delivered a captivating talk that highlighted the strategic, personal and professional aspects of the rapidly expanding esports industry.

Ehsan is a former head coach and general manager for the New York Subliners (NYSL), the Call of Duty team he masterminded from 11th place to become World champions.

Learning from a World Champion

His visit to County Durham provided an opportunity for students to learn from a figure who not only achieved peak performance but also understands the broader scope of esports development.

Ehsan said: “I spoke to the students about leadership skills, values and beliefs of leaders, and the soft and transferable skills that esports provides, such as communication and emotion management.

“Esports is growing at such a rapid pace and it will become a trillion-dollar industry. I think esports will take a similar progression to traditional sport where more leagues and teams will appear, there will be new ways for monetisation and the sport will just develop.”

Pictures:BAC

A Unique Career Path Inspiring Students

During his inspiring lecture, Ehsan captivated students with tales from his unique journey.

He shared how he transitioned from professional playing, to pursuing a first-class honours degree in BSc Biomedical Science (Cancer Research and Oncology), and even becoming a certified head coach and finance secretary in boxing, before his passion drew him back to esports.

Students Grasp the Scale of the Esports Industry

For students like Michael Lucas, 17, who studies esports Level 3, the talk was hugely insightful.

Michael said: “I didn’t realise how fast esports was expanding until Ehsan’s talk today – it’s becoming a huge industry.

“Ehsan taught us the transferable skills that esports can bring you, the soft skills you don’t realise you’re learning, such as concentration, which will be important for my career.

“Hearing Ehsan speak today about how he went from professional playing to coaching helped me to widen my thoughts about my career. I’ve never thought about coaching before or what it would be like – it sounds very interesting.”

Pictures: BAC

Growing Esports Across the UK and Beyond

Ehsan’s dedication extends beyond coaching elite teams.
He actively contributes to the advancement of esports within the UK, mainland Europe and the Middle East, using it as a powerful tool to strengthen essential life skills to the next generation.

Bishop Auckland College is committed to nurturing not just skilled gamers, but well-rounded individuals ready for diverse careers in the growing esports scene.

Industry Access for Future Professionals

Carl Draper, esports lecturer at Bishop Auckland College, said: “Having Ehsan today was a brilliant experience for the students. Having someone who is a world champion in his own right in the building is amazing to see, and for all levels of esports to experience his lecture and tasks today will be invaluable for them.

“We always try to get industry leaders in to speak to our students to give them a look into what life is like in the industry they want to be in.

“Giving the students the chance to meet and speak to people like Ehsan allows them to explore more about what they are currently learning and lets them see the incredible opportunities from the work they are doing in class.”