PLEASANTVILLE, N.Y. - As the inaugural season gets set to begin this semester, Pace University's Director of Athletics Mark Brown has announced the hiring of Jesse Bodony as the Setters' first-ever Director of Esports.
 
"I am excited that our institution was able to attract someone with such tremendous credentials like Jesse. He has an incredible understanding of the industry and I look forward to working with him as we build out an esports program here at Pace University."
 
Bodony brings deep collegiate esports experience to Pace. He previously served as CEO of Uni Esports Group, a higher education consulting firm developing esports programs for colleges, universities, and athletic conferences across the United States, where he worked with more than 100 institutions on their esports initiatives.
 
"I couldn't be more excited to help build an esports program in the heart of New York City at a forward-thinking university like Pace," said Bodony. "Creating a diverse, inclusive, competitively excellent program that provides our students with a meaningful collegiate experience is our top priority."
 
Prior to his work in collegiate esports, Bodony held a career as a professional soccer coach and player. He led varsity programs at George Washington High School in Colorado, coached the University of Oregon men's soccer team, and had a stint playing with Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids.
 
Bodony holds a pair of degrees from Dominican University of California, most recently receiving a masters degree in humanities where he specialized in philosophy and arts-based research.
 
To stay connected to Pace's new esports program follow @PaceUEsports on Instagram and Twitter and link to Pace's new Twitch Channel: PaceUesports. For more information on Pace's esports program or to get involved, email esports@pace.edu.
 
About Pace University 
Pace University has a proud history of preparing its diverse student body for a lifetime of professional success as a result of its unique program that combines rigorous academics and real-world experiences. Pace is ranked the #1 private, four-year college in the nation for upward economic mobility by Harvard University's Opportunity Insights, evidence of the transformative education the University provides. From its beginnings as an accounting school in 1906, Pace has grown to three campuses, enrolling 13,000 students in bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs in more than 150 majors and programs, across a range of disciplines: arts, sciences, business, health care, technology, law, education, and more. The university also has one of the most competitive performing arts programs in the country. Pace has a signature, newly renovated campus in New York City, located in the heart of vibrant Lower Manhattan, next to Wall Street and City Hall, and two campuses in Westchester County, New York: a 200-acre picturesque Pleasantville Campus and the Elisabeth Haub School of Law in White Plains. Follow us on Twitter or on the Pace News website
 
About Pace University Athletics
Pace University Athletics is a member of NCAA Division II, competing within the Northeast-10 Conference (NE10). Pace Athletics sponsors 15 intercollegiate sports, along with cheer and dance teams and a Pep Band. Known as the Setters, Pace's official mascot is known as T-Bone.  In 2020-21, Pace student-athletes posted a cumulative grade point average of 3.45. Additionally, a total of 307 Setters were selected to the NE10's Academic Honor Roll following the spring 2021 semester. All of Pace's teams in action in 2020-21 made the NE10 Conference postseason championships.