COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The Mountain West announced its Spring 2025 Esports Players and Coaches of the Year, as voted on by the league’s coaches. San José State’s Vincent “Mach” Mach took home League of Legends Player of the Year honors. Air Force’s Stephen “Phoenix” Shepard won Overwatch Player of the Year and Boise State’s Austin “Prestige” Julian was awarded VALORANT Player of the Year. Coach of the Year honors went to Boise State’s Kelsey Moser for League of Legends, Boise State’s Chris Haskell for Overwatch and SJSU’s Gabriel Eckenroth for VALORANT.
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
VINCENT “MACH” MACH, SAN JOSÉ STATE
Junior, San Jose, California
- Helped San José State finish the regular season undefeated in their group, never losing a map.
- Won the MW Championship, losing only one map during the playoffs.
- Challenger tier gamer on the North America Solo Q ranked ladder, reserved for the top 300 players in NA.
- Two-time MW Champion and 2025 Playfly Champion.
- Pursuing a degree in business finance.
OVERWATCH PLAYER OF THE YEAR
STEPHEN “PHOENIX” SHEPARD, AIR FORCE
Senior, Nashville, Tennessee
- Team captain and IGL for the past three years.
- Highest ranked player in Air Force’s history.
- AF finished the season with its best MW record in team history.
- Falcons’ skill rating increased over 1,000 points as a team while Shepard was captain.
- Pursuing a degree in computer science with a minor in Japanese.
VALORANT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
AUSTIN “PRESTIGE” JULIAN, BOISE STATE
Sophomore, Zionsville, Indiana
- Joined Boise State’s VALORANT team in 2023. The Broncos have compiled a 94-51 record over the past two years.
- Finished runner-up in the Mountain West this season, recording a 6-1 record in the regular season.
- Helped Boise State win the 2025 Hawai‘i Esports Invitational.
- Pursuing a degree in marketing.
LEAGUE OF LEGENDS COACH OF THE YEAR
KELSEY MOSER, BOISE STATE
OVERWATCH COACH OF THE YEAR
CHRIS HASKELL, BOISE STATE
VALORANT COACH OF THE YEAR
GABRIEL ECKENROTH, SAN JOSÉ STATE
