Justin Bragg isn't new to starting a college esports program from scratch.
Doing it during a worldwide pandemic? That's another animal altogether.
But after being hired at Purdue Northwest in March, Bragg recruited a team and — with the university's other sports on pause because of the coronavirus pandemic — had a successful mini-season in September and October.
The Pride swept a pair of exhibition matches from Wichita State, 2-1 and 2-0, before losing 2-1 to North Carolina in the PlayVS exhibition playoffs.
It was an auspicious start for PNW's 14th varsity sport and the first esports program at a public university in Indiana.
Pride athletic director Rick Costello has watched the sport's exponential growth — there are now around 200 college varsity programs across the country and about 40 high school teams in the state — and figured it'd be a perfect fit at a university with strong STEM focus.
Once the decision was made to add esports, it was time to hire a coach. And Costello believes Bragg is the perfect fit.
The 2014 Illinois graduate started an esports program at Illinois College in downstate Jacksonville in 2018 and this year guided the Blueboys to a 9-2 record that included wins over Missouri, Wichita State and nationally-ranked Grand View among others.
Bragg is not just an accomplished coach, he's also a pretty good player, and that can only help as he recruits new athletes for the Pride.
"Justin's got quite a rep from his playing days," Costello said, noting Bragg was once ranked in the top 10 nationally among League of Legends competitors.
Bragg has big dreams for the Pride.
"Hopefully we'll have 60 to 100 students on the roster in the next five years or so," he said. "The other goal is to be competitive."
Like many other activities this year, PNW's esports competition was conducted virtually. That did present some challenges.
"It's difficult, because it's easier for me to coach students when we're all together," Bragg said. "People get distracted when you're in a room by yourself."
Felix Barrera can attest to that. The sophomore from Munster is looking forward to seeing both his classmates and teammates again.
"I learn a lot better when I have a person speaking in front of me," Barrera said. "(In remote learning), you start thinking about other things. It's so easy to wander off in your mind."
While he has learned to focus both in the classroom and in esports practices and matches, Barrera believes there's no substitute for being there.
"We can talk all we want over the communications we use," he said, "but I never get to see my teammates in person."
It looks like the sports side of things will stay that way through the next semester. Though PNW's spring schedule isn't final yet, Bragg expects it to be all-virtual with a possible return to in-person competition next fall.
But he's glad just to have the opportunity denied so many other Pride athletes since the pandemic took hold in March.
"We definitely feel lucky in the fact we can still compete even if it's not the way we would do it normally," Bragg said. "We still feel bad for those other sports with these restrictions (that mean) they can't play."
Gallery: The Times' best fall prep sports photos
Girls golf at Crown Point Invitational

Lake Central's Cierra Kubacki reacts Wednesday as her putt breaks at the hole at White Hawk Country Club in Crown Point.
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Hanover Central's Eddie Goff, right, hauls in a long pass late in the second quarter as Portage's Demarion Lee defends on Friday in Portage.
Crown Point Portage girls soccer

Fans stand for the National Anthem before the start of the Crown Point vs. Portage girls varsity soccer game at Crown Point High School Tuesday.
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Valparaiso's Jason Isley heads the ball over Chesterton's Jacob Perkins and Valparaiso's Diego Sanjuan near midfield in the first half at Chesterton High School Wednesday evening.
LaPorte Crown Point volleyball

LaPorte's Aniya Kennedy sends her shot past Crown Point's Lilly Stoddard in the first game at Crown Point High School Thursday evening.
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Crown Point's Erica Packwood attacks from the middle against LaPorte in the second set at Crown Point High School Thursday evening.
Andrean at Lake Central

Andrean head coach Chris Skinner makes a point to Patrick Clacks after a play against Lake Central in the second quarter Friday night at Lake Central High School in St. John.
Portage at Lowell football

Lowell student fans are spaced apart in the student section as they cheer on the Red Devils against Portage on Friday in Lowell.
Gallery: Crown Point at Merrillville football

Merrillville's JoJo Johnson, left, fends off Crown Point's Tanner Hekkel after a reception Friday night at Merrillville High School.
LaPorte at Valparaiso football

Valparaiso's Liam Shepherd, center left, kicks a field goal on Friday in Valparaiso.
Lowell at Highland girls soccer

Highland's Morgan Juarez tries to avoid Lowell's Alyssa Durall after she was tripped up near the goal in the first half Tuesday evening at Highland High School.
Portage/Merrillville football

Merrillville’s JoJo Johnson covers Portage’s Elijah Thomas on attempted touch down pass Friday night at PHS.
Lake Central at Crown Point football

Crown Point's Matthew Walters heads for the end zone in the first quarter to put the Bulldogs up 6-0 over Lake Central at Crown Point High School Friday evening.
Kankakee Valley at North Newton football

North Newton student fans toss baby powder into the air during kickoff in the second half against Kankakee Valley on Friday in Morocco.
Portage/Merrillville football

Portage’s Devan Howard, left and Colton Wilkie celebrate a touchdown pass reception by Howard against Merrillville Friday night at PHS.
Chesterton at Lake Central girls soccer

Lake Central's Ava Gutyan, left, controls the ball over Chesterton's Nikki Groceman in the second half on Tuesday at Lake Central.
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Andrean's Madison Kmetz, left, and Brooke Molson, right, stop Highland's Ariel Cassel at the net in the third game Thursday evening at Andrean High School in Merrillville.
Portage at Crown Point football

Portage's Myles Sisco holds off Crown Point's Liam Begley in the second quarter at Crown Point High School Friday evening.
Lake Central at Andrean girls soccer

Andrean's Mary Dravet holds off Lake Central's Ava Gutyan in the second half at Andrean High School in Merrillville Thursday evening.
Andrean/Hobart football

Andrean’s Nicky Flesher runs against Hobart's defense Friday night at Hobart.
Merrillville at Bishop Chatard football

Junior running back Lavarion Logan holds the ball while his teammates cheer after scoring a touchdown Oct. 3 at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis, Ind.
Michigan City at Portage football

Michigan City defenders find Portage's Terrell Craft on a gain on Friday in Portage.
Gavit at Clark football

Clark’s Anthony Novakovich gets his legs knocked out from under him by Gavit’s Alton Williams in a game Saturday in Hammond.
3A Boys Soccer Sectional Quarterfinal: Lake Central vs. Bishop Noll

A brawl ensues between Bishop Noll and Lake Central players during the second half of a 3A sectional quarterfinal on Tuesday in Highland.
3A boys soccer sectional semifinal: Chesterton vs. Valparaiso

Chesterton keeper Charlie Eaton watches as Liam Grimes breaks up Valparaiso's Breece Walls' header at the goal in the first half at Crown Point High School Wednesday evening.
Crown Point vs. Munster

Munster's Sarah Lenaburg tries to stop Crown Point's Erin Harrison near midfield in the first half at Lake Central High School in St. John Thursday evening.
Whiting/Griffith, football

Griffith’s Kyle Atkinson runs the ball into the end zone to score during the first half Friday night against Whiting as the Oilers play their first game since being reinstated. It’s also Whiting's only home game during the regular season.
Andrean at Kankakee Valley football

Andrean's Billy Jones breaks up a pass intended for Kankakee Valley's Logan Fugett in the second quarter at Kankakee Valley High School Friday night.
Whiting/Griffith, football

Whiting’s Tommy Eggers is tripped up inches from the goal line by Griffith’s Connor Cervantes in the first half Friday night at Whiting.
3A girls soccer sectional final: Chesterton vs. Valparaiso

Chesterton soccer players, from left, Annalisa Hackett, Addy Joiner, Carley Balas and Kaitlyn Kogl celebrate with their Class 3A sectional championship trophy after a 2-0 win over rival Valparaiso on Saturday in Chesterton.
3A girls soccer sectional final: Chesterton vs. Valparaiso

Chesterton's Carley Balas, center, nabs a save for the Trojans as teammate Gina Geenen, right, and Valparaiso's Kailyn Smith look on during a 3A sectional final on Saturday in Chesterton.
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Chesterton’s Charlie Eaton celebrates stopping a kick in the second round of an overtime shootout against Crown Point on Saturday night as the Trojans defeated the Bulldogs.
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Chesterton's Emma Ekblaw celebrates a point in the second game as Chesterton leads 18-9 over Lowell during sectional play at Valparaiso High School Thursday evening. Jeffrey D. Nicholls, The Times
Morton at Gavit, football

Morton’s Carson Johnson hoists Ken’shan Watkins celebrating a touchdown Friday night at Gavit.
Lowell at Andrean football

Andrean's Robby Ballentine hauls in a pass from quarterback Joe Cimino in the first quarter with Lowell's Reec Ison and Michael Eriks defending Friday evening.
Lowell at Andrean football

Andrean's Robby Ballentine reacts after a long pass reception against Lowell at Andrean High School in Merrillville Friday evening.
3A girls soccer regional semifinal: Crown Point vs. Chesterton

Crown Point's Erin Harrison, left, works against Chesterton's Ingrid Hurst on Saturday during a 3A regional semifinal in South Bend.
3A girls soccer regional semifinal: Crown Point vs. Chesterton

Crown Point's Emma Adams, left, knocks the ball away from Chesterton's Grace Bamber on Saturday during a 3A regional semifinal in South Bend.
Chesterton & Plymouth - Regional Soccer

Chesterton's Jacob Perkins (1) and Plymouth's Eddie Mendoza (20) compete for the ball during the regional semifinal at the Goshen Soccer Complex on Saturday.
Class 4A Valparaiso Sectional volleyball championship

Crown Point’s Erica Packwood hits the ball while Chesterton’s Emma Ekblaw, left, Ella Rodriguezz and Katie Nelson defend Saturday in Class 4A Valparaiso Sectional volleyball championship.
4A football sectional quarterfinal: Griffith vs. Highland

Highland's Christian Rios, center right, leaps to tackle Griffith's Carson Crowe on Friday during a 4A sectional quarterfinal in Highland.
Morton vs. Lowell

Morton's Mekhi Whitehead tries to haul in a reception in the second quarter against Lowell during the Class 4A Sectional 17 opener at Lowell High School Friday night.
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Chesterton goalkeeper Charlie Eaton holds up the 3A boys soccer semistate trophy with the rest of the team after the Trojans beat Fishers Saturday at St. Joseph High School in South Bend.
4A volleyball regional final: Crown Point vs. Munster

Munster's Lauren Wallace, center, and Emily Banaszek, right, go up to block a spike from Crown Point's Kendall Schara on Saturday during a 4A volleyball regional final at LaPorte High School.
5A football sectional semifinal: Michigan City vs. Valparaiso

Michigan City's Treylen Simmons, left, misses a pass while being covered by Valparaiso's Hayden Vinyard on Friday during a 5A sectional semifinal in Valparaiso.
3A boys soccer state final: Chesterton vs. Castle

Chesterton's Zack Bowser, left, and Nick Biel, right, are able to steal the ball from Castle's Jackson Mitchell on Saturday during the 3A state final in Fishers.
Hobart/Lowell, football sectional championship

Hobart’s Riley Johnston holds a Class 4A sectional championship trophy with teammates after beating Lowell 10-7 Friday night at Hobart.
5A football sectional semifinal: Valparaiso vs. LaPorte

LaPorte's Grant Ott-Large stretches for a first down against Valparaiso in the first quarter of the Sectional final at Kiwanis Field in LaPorte Friday evening.
4A volleyball state final: Munster vs. Yorktown

Munster's Emily Banaszek, right, blocks a hit from Yorktown's Ellee Stinson on Saturday during the 4A girls volleyball state final at Ball State University’s Worthen Arena in Muncie.
Andrean vs. Pioneer

Andrean quarterback Joe Cimino reacts after his pass was intercepted in the end zone late in the fourth quarter of the 2A regional final at Pioneer Friday night.
Gallery
Mike Clark can be reached at (219) 933-4197 or michael.clark@nwi.com. The opinions are the writer's.