Chris Haskell

Clinical Assistant Professor &

Director and Head Coach of Boise University Esports Program

Dr. Chris "Doc" Haskell is the Director and Head Coach of the esports program at Boise State University and Clinical Associate Professor of its Educational Technology Department. He has a background in Music Education, a Master's degree in Educational Technology, and a Doctorate in Education, Curriculum, and Instruction. In 2010, Dr. Haskell in collaboration with Dr. Lisa Dawley co-created the 3D Game Lab, a quest-based learning platform, in which college students learned by selecting quests and accumulating badges and experience points. In 2017, Dr. Haskell co-founded with Dr. Brett Shelton Boise’s esports program. The esports program they developed currently includes five varsity teams, 300 student club members, and a dedicated arena. Boise's esports have won numerous championships under Haskell's direction.

Dr. Haskell has received many awards and distinctions. Early in his carrier, he was recognized for his ground-breaking work in quest-based learning with the 2013 Innovator Award from the International Association for K–12 Online Learning. In recent years, in 2020 the National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) recognized him as the director of the year and the National Association of Esports Coaches and Directors (NAECAD) as the Coach of the Year. In 2021 Esports Awards presented him with the Collegiate Ambassador award and the September of this year (2022) was named Best Collegiate Director of Esports by the Collegiate Esports Commissioners Cup (CECC).

His research focuses on the impact of video games, virtual worlds, social media, and digital culture. He has published many books and has given several keynote addresses.

Some of his most recent books include

  • Shelton, D. B. E., & Haskell, D. C. (2018). College esports: What you need to know (1.2 edition). Baxajaunak Technology.

  • Haskell, D. C. (2016). Amazing things great teachers do with technology.

  • Haskell, D. C. (2016). Building your Minecraft virtual campus. Apple Books.

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