John Merritt
John Merritt has served as OKWU’s Director of Esports since 2020.
Merritt is a native of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. He is a graduate of Oklahoma Wesleyan University who came to campus as a member of the soccer team. He graduated with a degree in ministry before joining the staff.
Merritt has been an avid gamer for most of his life. At the age of 14, he began to create gaming content and compete in esports, and this developed into a passion that he continued to develop as he matured. In college, Merritt became a verified Twitch Partner and developed a strong following as he created content based around his favorite games. Now sponsored by brands like Reebok, Madrinas Coffee, Bombanana Hot Sauce, and Brio Product Group, Merritt continues to be an influential voice in the gaming world. In 2020, he was interviewed by Christianity Today for an article about Christianity and Esports.
Under Merritt’s coaching, the young Esports program at OKWU has already experienced success. The OKWU Overwatch team took 2nd place in the “Nerd Street Gamers 6v6 Spring tournament” in 2021, and the OKWU Rocket League team took 4th place in the April 2021 2v2 Rewind x Click Gaming Tournament.
Merritt believes his passion for gaming and his love for ministry create a unique opportunity for OKWU Esports to impact the world.