“This is a different generation (of players), but that message gets across.”Īshcroft remembers breaking into the lineup as a freshman in the 2003-04 season. “It’s the same message (all these years),” said Ashcroft. The winning formula is simple and hasn’t changed since Day 1: Play defense and share the ball. He has reached more Berks (16) and District 3 (17) finals and more state tournaments (27) than anyone. It’s been fantastic.”Įsterly has won more division titles (23) and district championships (12) than any other boys basketball coach in Berks history. And very fortunate to be a part of this group. I was very fortunate to be a part of Central. I love to win, there’s no doubt about that, (but) this is a neat place (to coach). Several years ago he said he wanted to coach through the completion of Casey Jack’s high school career he coached his brothers, Donovon and Connor, and was committed to complete the cycle.
When none of his assistants expressed interest in taking over, he returned. He went through the summer figuring he was retired. He was worn out from another long playoff run and left the door open for someone else to step in. He seems reinvigorated in recent seasons, especially now that his son is with him on the coaching staff, along with a pair of players from his state championship team, Ashcroft and Cameron Furman.Įsterly thought he was done in 2007 after the Cardinals beat DuBois Central Catholic for the PIAA Class A state title. “He’ll coach until they tell him to leave.”Įsterly is in no hurry to exit. “He’s in it for the long haul,” assures his son, Tate, an assistant coach the past three seasons. “He’s still having so much fun out there, whether he’s 30 years old or 59,” said Matt Ashcroft, a former Central Catholic guard and now an assistant coach. He still loves getting in the gym each evening, still loves Friday nights in a packed gym, still loves preparing for playoff games – 180 of which he’s won – and taking deep rides into March. He reserves that energy now for the big games, but he hasn’t lost any of the zeal for the game.
#Snip league city full
He’s not quite as excitable as he was back in the day when he was known to spend a full 32 minutes each night screeching at his players and at the refs. Granted, he’s toned it down on the sidelines a lot since taking over that program in 1989. He doesn’t look a whole lot different than he did four decades ago when he signed on to Reggie Weiss’ coaching staff at Central Catholic.
He is in his 29th season as a head coach, and seventh at BC, and is enjoying his current team – which takes a 22-game winning streak into the PIAA Class 4A Tournament tonight – as much as any. He is averaging more than 24 wins per season and maintains a winning percentage of nearly. Esterly doesn’t appear to be slowing down any, and his program remains at the top. 703, was noteworthy as well: It made Esterly the winningest boys coach in District 3 history.Įight hundred is certainly within range, and 900 isn’t out of the question. Chapman and Straub remain active.īerks Catholic’s district championship last week, win No. Three others – Tony Chapman, at Holy Ghost Prep Aaron Straub, at Elk County Catholic and Don Graham, at Pittsburgh’s North Catholic – have topped 800. Ron Insinger, in his 44th season at Loyalsock, enters the PIAA Tournament Saturday with 904 victories. Getting that state record is at least a decade or more away and might be unattainable. He’s one of just six active coaches with 700 or more wins. 700 thrust Esterly into elite company only 14 boys basketball coaches in Pennsylvania are believed have reached that plateau. “This one’s special,” Esterly allowed a few days after his eighth county title, “because of where it was and who it was against.” The basketball moments don’t get much bigger than that, even for a lifer like the 59-year-old Esterly, who has been transfixed by the game since he was that annoying squirt hanging out at the Kerry Irwin playground in West Lawn hoping to get on the court with the big guys.
0 kommentar(er)
