The Madison College Athletics Department has named Wes Kutzke as the new Esports head coach ahead of the 2026-27 athletic year. Kutzke, who becomes the third head coach all-time for WolfPack Esports, takes over a program with 11 NJCAAE titles over 12 semesters of competition. In addition to the Esports role, Kutzke will also serve as the XR Center Coordinator for Madison College.

"I am thrilled to have Wes in this new full-time role. I know he will do a terrific job working with and mentoring all of our current and future Esports student-athletes," stated Director of Athletics Jason Verhelst. "I know he will continue to build on the strong foundation of Esports at the college."

Kutzke brings four years of collegiate Esports coaching experience to the WolfPack after serving as a graduate assistant coach at Carthage College from 2022 to 2026. During his time with the Firebirds, Kutzke coached four gaming titles as they competed in Valorant, Rocket League, Rainbow Six Siege, and Counter-Strike. Kutzke's Valorant team won back-to-back NECC Division 7 championships in the Spring 2025 and Spring 2026 semesters. At Carthage, he earned a Master's Degree in Curriculum and Instruction.

"I've known [former head coach] Joe [Hanson] and some former players for a couple of years now, and being able to take over and continue the legacy is a dream come true for me," said Kutzke. "I used to be a student here myself years ago, and seeing the evolution of this campus and the programs - including Esports - is something I'm honored to be a part of. I'm jealous as I wish this existed during my time here as a student, but I'm blessed to help current students make core memories and developmental strides on their journeys of life through this shared experience."

After his time at Madison College, Kutzke competed in Esports for one year at UW-La Crosse, serving as an In-Game-Leader before graduating with his Bachelor's degree. During his prep days, Kutzke competed in cross country at Marshall High School. 

He has spent the past three years teaching high school math in the Kenosha Unified School District.

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