Craig R. Esherick (born November 1, 1956)^[1] 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.

Biography [edit]

Esherick grew up in Silver Spring, Maryland 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.

Georgetown Head coach [edit]

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 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.

Head coaching record [edit]

Notes [edit]

References [edit]

• "Former Georgetown Basketball Coach Craig Esherick Joins George Mason University Faculty" (Press release). George Mason University. 2008-09-14. Retrieved 2009-11-20. 
• "FiOS1, Verizon's Local TV Channel, to Do Live Broadcasts of two George Mason University Basketball Games" (Press release). Verizon. 2008-12-29. Retrieved 2009-11-20.