MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — The new Wiley University Esports program, designed as a strategic pipeline to high-paying careers in technology, business, and media, has its inaugural head coach.
Silicon Valley technologist Taylor Smith is a Spelman College alum, data scientist, educator, and native of Marshall.
Smith’s journey took her from Marshall to Spelman, a renowned HBCU, to Silicon Valley and back home.
Her appointment also makes her one of a small but growing number of women leading collegiate Esports programs.
Smith’s passion for technology began with childhood gaming sessions and transitioned into a career at the intersection of AI and data science.
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She currently serves as a Senior Analyst on the Generative AI team at Uber Technologies and previously contributed to AI research at Good and held a developer role at a leading EdTech (Educational Technology) company.
Smith began her teaching career as a middle school teacher in 2019 and earned a “Most Innovative Award” for integrating classroom technology.
The new Wiley University Esports coach Taylor Smith. (Image courtesy of Wiley University)
She taught statistics as an adjunct instructor while completing her doctoral studies at the University of Texas and Wayne State University and contributed to major research projects.
Smith said, “There is nothing like feeding inquisitive minds. I have always believed that in a proactive learning space, everyone learns from each other. That collaborative, forward-thinking mindset is exactly what I plan to inject directly into this esports program.”
Wiley University Director of Athletics Darrius Brooks, Ph.D., noted that the Esports program directly aligns with President & CEO Herman J Felton Jr.’s ‘Bold and Audacious Vision’ for the institution.
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“Ms. Smith was the absolute perfect candidate to launch this program. She successfully turned her passion for gaming into a thriving corporate career. I look forward to her guiding our student-athletes to do the exact same — ensuring they win both in collegiate competition and in the modern workforce.”
Wiley will compete in the National Association of Collegiate Esports. Student recruitment for the inaugural team will begin immediately.
The Esports program integrates comprehensive academic tracks in technology and engineering, including game design, software engineering, and data analytics.
Students can also specialize in media and business through broadcast production, digital marketing, event management, and corporate sponsorships, or explore human performance through sports psychology and coaching.
The Wiley approach will not only teach students to compete but also train them to understand business, technology, media, and leadership.
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Smith also intends to leverage her Silicon Valley connections to connect students with tech executives, Esports pioneers, and corporate leaders, with the goal of providing students access to rooms, conversations, and professional networks that can shape career opportunities.
“I want to bring in guest speakers who truly excite and inspire our students. We will send our athletes to major conferences and industry conventions where they can network with tech executives and esports pioneers before graduation. In this industry, when you excel, talent scouts and corporate recruiters find you. That creates an entirely new set of doors for our graduates.”
Smith holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Spelman College, a Master of Arts in Educational Leadership and Policy from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in Data Science from the University of Denver.
She will officially receive her Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy, with a concentration in Artificial Intelligence, from the University of Texas at Austin in July 2026.
In addition to coaching, Smith will teach courses in AI, data science, and business innovation within Wiley University’s upcoming Ph.D. program, set to debut in 2027.
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