Craig Esherick
Encyclopedia
Craig Esherick is an assistant professor of sport management
for George Mason University
and color commentator
for college basketball
games. He was formerly the head coach
of the Georgetown University men's basketball team and assistant basketball
coach and scout
for the 1988 U.S. Men's Olympic basketball team
.
and graduated from Springbrook High School
in 1974 as an all-state forward. He was a four year basketball letterman at Georgetown from 1974-1978 and thereafter attended Georgetown University Law School, receiving a law degree in 1982. During his final two years of law school at Georgetown, he served as a graduate assistant to John Thompson Jr. In 1982, Thompson offered Esherick the position of assistant coach, and along with former teammate Mike Riley, he stayed in the position for the next 17 years. Following Thompson's abrupt resignation in 1999, Esherick was named head coach by Thompson.
Taking over on January 8, 1999, Georgetown finished the 1999 season with a record of 15–15 before falling to Princeton University
in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament
. The 2000 team improved to 19–15, earning an NIT bid. Following a quadruple overtime win over the University of Virginia
, 115–111, Georgetown lost to the University of California in the second round.
In Esherick's third season, the 2001, team made the NCAA Tournament
under the stardom of future top-10 draft pick Mike Sweetney. The Hoyas made it to the Sweet 16, losing to the University of Maryland
.
Esherick's final three seasons proved disappointing. The 2002 season saw the Hoyas narrowly miss the NCAA tournament with a 19–11 mark, but he was criticized for rejecting a bid to the NIT Tournament
, as Esherick objected to playing away from home throughout that tournament. The 2003 season earned an NIT bid, where the Hoyas did advance to the championship game of the NIT Tournament
, losing to St. John's
.
The departure of Mike Sweetney left the Hoyas' lineup bare entering the 2004 season, where the Hoyas started 13–6 before collapsing and losing its last nine games of the season, ending with a 13–15 record.
Despite a comment by Esherick on March 5 saying, "I ain't going anywhere -- I may be here for another 30 years," and a public showing of support by Georgetown president John DeGioia, Esherick was fired five days after the end of the season following student protests over his continued tenure and failure to produce winning teams. He was replaced by John Thompson Jr.'s son, Princeton University
head coach John Thompson III
.
Sport management
Sport management is a field of education and vocation concerning the business aspect of sport. Some examples of sport managers include the front office system in professional sports, college sports managers, recreational sport managers, sports marketing, event management, facility management,...
for George Mason University
George Mason University
George Mason University is a public university based in unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, United States, south of and adjacent to the city of Fairfax. Additional campuses are located nearby in Arlington County, Prince William County, and Loudoun County...
and color commentator
Color commentator
A color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer, often by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The color analyst and main commentator will often exchange comments freely throughout the broadcast, when the play-by-play announcer is not describing the...
for college basketball
College basketball
College basketball most often refers to the USA basketball competitive governance structure established by the National Collegiate Athletic Association . Basketball in the NCAA is divided into three divisions: Division I, Division II and Division III....
games. He was formerly the head coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
of the Georgetown University men's basketball team and assistant basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
coach and scout
Scout (sport)
In professional sports, scouts are trained talent evaluators who travel extensively for the purposes of watching athletes play their chosen sports and determining whether their set of skills and talents represent what is needed by the scout's organization...
for the 1988 U.S. Men's Olympic basketball team
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics
Basketball at the 1988 Summer Olympics took place at the Jamsil Gymnasium in Seoul, South Korea. The United States won the gold medal in the women's competition, thus repeating their performance from the 1984 tournament. In the men's tournament, the Soviet Union took home their second gold medal in...
.
Biography
Esherick grew up in Silver Spring, MarylandSilver Spring, Maryland
Silver Spring is an unincorporated area and census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States. It had a population of 71,452 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth most populous place in Maryland, after Baltimore, Columbia, and Germantown.The urbanized, oldest, and...
and graduated from Springbrook High School
Springbrook High School
Springbrook High School is a public high school. It is located in Silver Spring, an unincorporated community in Montgomery County, Maryland, between the Colesville and White Oak communities....
in 1974 as an all-state forward. He was a four year basketball letterman at Georgetown from 1974-1978 and thereafter attended Georgetown University Law School, receiving a law degree in 1982. During his final two years of law school at Georgetown, he served as a graduate assistant to John Thompson Jr. In 1982, Thompson offered Esherick the position of assistant coach, and along with former teammate Mike Riley, he stayed in the position for the next 17 years. Following Thompson's abrupt resignation in 1999, Esherick was named head coach by Thompson.
Georgetown Head coach
Esherick continued the style of play and scheduling habits of his predecessor as coach. Through his tenure, Esherick came under growing criticism for the non-conference teams he scheduled, and his inability to close out tight games.Taking over on January 8, 1999, Georgetown finished the 1999 season with a record of 15–15 before falling to Princeton University
Princeton Tigers men's basketball
The Princeton Tigers men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing Princeton University. The school competes in the Ivy League in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Tigers play home basketball games at the Jadwin Gymnasium in...
in the first round of the National Invitation Tournament
1999 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Xavier 106, Oregon 75...
. The 2000 team improved to 19–15, earning an NIT bid. Following a quadruple overtime win over the University of Virginia
Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball
The Virginia Cavaliers men's basketball program represents the University of Virginia in the Atlantic Coast Conference in the NCAA's Division I. The team is coached by Tony Bennett.-Statistics:-Retired numbers:-Retired jerseys:...
, 115–111, Georgetown lost to the University of California in the second round.
In Esherick's third season, the 2001, team made the NCAA Tournament
2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament
The 2001 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 65 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 2001 with the play-in game, and ended with the championship game on April 2 in...
under the stardom of future top-10 draft pick Mike Sweetney. The Hoyas made it to the Sweet 16, losing to the University of Maryland
Maryland Terrapins men's basketball
The Maryland Terrapins men's basketball team represents the University of Maryland in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
.
Esherick's final three seasons proved disappointing. The 2002 season saw the Hoyas narrowly miss the NCAA tournament with a 19–11 mark, but he was criticized for rejecting a bid to the NIT Tournament
2002 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Temple 65, Syracuse 64...
, as Esherick objected to playing away from home throughout that tournament. The 2003 season earned an NIT bid, where the Hoyas did advance to the championship game of the NIT Tournament
2003 National Invitation Tournament
-Semifinals & Finals:*Third Place - Texas Tech 71, Minnesota 61St. John's later vacated the title due to an ineligible player....
, losing to St. John's
St. John's Red Storm men's basketball
The St. John's Red Storm men's basketball team represents the St. John's University in Queens, New York. The team participates in the Big East Conference. The men’s coach Norm Roberts was fired on March 19, 2010...
.
The departure of Mike Sweetney left the Hoyas' lineup bare entering the 2004 season, where the Hoyas started 13–6 before collapsing and losing its last nine games of the season, ending with a 13–15 record.
Despite a comment by Esherick on March 5 saying, "I ain't going anywhere -- I may be here for another 30 years," and a public showing of support by Georgetown president John DeGioia, Esherick was fired five days after the end of the season following student protests over his continued tenure and failure to produce winning teams. He was replaced by John Thompson Jr.'s son, Princeton University
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. The school is one of the eight universities of the Ivy League, and is one of the nine Colonial Colleges founded before the American Revolution....
head coach John Thompson III
John Thompson III
John Thompson III is the current head coach of the men's basketball team at Georgetown University. He grew up in Washington, D.C. and was named first team All-Metro by The Washington Post while playing for Gonzaga College High School in 1984. Thompson was hired on April 20, 2004 to replace Craig...
.