KANSAS CITY, MO (January 14, 2026) – The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) is proud to announce a new strategic partnership with the Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance (ISEA), a nationwide coalition of educator-run scholastic esports state organizations serving the K-12 space. This collaboration is designed to build stronger connections between scholastic and collegiate esports, enhance resource sharing, and support talent development pipelines.
Riley Long, Executive Director, NACE: “As scholarship opportunities continue to grow in varsity collegiate esports, establishing direct pathways between K-12 and NACE is critical in ensuring high school students are aware of the full scope of opportunities to compete at the next level. Partnering with the ISEA will help strengthen our programs’ connections to the K-12 space and enable the sharing of rulesets, standards and best practices with ISEA and its state organizations.”
Strengthening the K-12 to Varsity Esports Pathway
Through this partnership, NACE and ISEA will work collaboratively to:
- Grow awareness of NACE programs and competition within the broader K-12 community to inspire students to pursue varsity collegiate esports opportunities.
- Share NACE resources, including rulesets, competition standards, and best practices, with ISEA, helping to elevate scholastic esports infrastructure.
- Connect with ISEA’s network of state organizations to expand regional recruitment efforts and create collaborative opportunities that reinforce talent pipelines for NACE member institutions.
Dylan Gentilcore, Executive Team, ISEA: “NACE and its member institutions continue to raise the bar for integrity and legitimacy in the collegiate landscape much like we at ISEA aspire to for K-12 esports. We both continue to face the challenges of a highly fragmented ecosystem with initiatives often working in parallel but rarely in tandem. This partnership meaningfully unifies our work and resources toward mutual goals in elevating recruiting standards, program visibility, and student opportunity.”
Building Connections between NACE Programs & State Organizations
A key focus of the NACE x ISEA partnership is strengthening direct connections between NACE member institutions and ISEA’s network of state-level scholastic esports organizations. NACE is committed to sharing key information with ISEA and its state organizations to ensure NACE program leaders are aware of opportunities to engage with and recruit at regional K-12 esports events.
About NACE
The National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) is the largest and most established association of varsity esports programs at colleges and universities across North America. Founded in 2016, NACE supports more than 150 member institutions and over 4,000 student-athletes, offering premier leagues, championship events, and strategic partnerships that enhance the student-athlete experience. Learn more at the Official NACE Website.
Media Contact: Riley Long, Executive Director, longri@nacesports.org
About ISEA
The Interstate Scholastic Esports Alliance is a nationwide network of educator-led scholastic esports organizations serving K-12 students and schools. ISEA’s mission is to advocate for, elevate, and protect scholastic esports by providing resources, promoting fair play and academic alignment, and fostering inclusive competitive environments. Learn more at the Official ISEA Website.
Media Contact: Danielle Johnson, President, danielle@texsef.org and Jake Utities, VP, Jake@fenworks.com