Aberdeen's new boys basketball coach is no stranger to Harford County hoops.
Erik Esbrandt played for his predecessor Bill Jones as a freshman at North Harford. He was then coached in AAU by Terry Matsko of Edgewood. Now, with Jones leaving Aberdeen to take an assistant job at his alma mater, North Harford, Esbrandt has been promoted from JV coach with the Eagles to make his varsity leading debut.
Esbrandt recently spoke to Aegis about his expectations for his new role and his background with the Basketball Foundation. (Editor's note: Some questions and answers have been lightly edited for clarity):
How did this opportunity come about?
I have been a JV coach for the past three years. So when Bill took over the national team job, it was right after the coronavirus. Around the same time Bill became head coach, I took a job as a physical education teacher in Aberdeen. I contacted him in hopes of volunteering to help out and he offered me the job of being his JV head coach, which I gladly accepted. We always had a very good relationship. I was truly grateful and grateful for that opportunity.
What was it like playing for Bill Jones in high school?
Bill, he's the ultimate player coach. Everyone loves playing for him. he has a great sense of humor. He makes practice fun. He will clearly lie to you and hold people accountable when necessary. But I have never heard of or seen a player who does not like to play under the building.
What is your coaching background?
My first teaching job was at Edgewood Middle School, just down the road from Aberdeen. I attended Edgewood High School where he was a JV assistant coach for two years. Coaching with Isaiah Gills was truly my first high school coaching experience. I spent two years there. Then I actually left Edgewood Middle School and went to Arbutus Middle School, which is like Catonsville. I was the head coach of the middle school basketball team there for two years. So basically I was a JV assistant at Edgewood for two years and then I was the head coach at Arbutus Middle for two years before coming to Aberdeen.
What was the communication like when taking over the torch from Bill T.?Oh, what about you? Did he give you any guidance?
My wife always rolls her eyes when the phone rings, especially during the season. Because I think it's about one of the coaches, especially Bill. Because we are always in touch. Even after he moved away, we continued to keep in touch. He gave me advice on how to handle the pressures of a head coaching job and helped me find a JV coach and an assistant coach. And the big one is the Aberdeen community. They have a passion for basketball and football. They naturally have high expectations of their coaches. So it's definitely a big burden. So Bill had a lot of success in his three years. But I'm excited about the challenge.
How would you describe yourself as a coach and your coaching philosophy?
I take a pretty similar approach to Bill. I consider myself a player's coach. What I value most is the relationship with the players, a lasting relationship. I want them to stay involved even after they graduate and move on to the next level. It's about building a strong relationship where they want to play for me, they want to play hard, and everyone wants what's best for each other.
And as a school teacher, I have a big focus on the classroom. Obviously grades are the top priority. As for JV, that has been my biggest focus for the past three years with her. …That’s always my main focus. I tell my players, “Whether you play basketball at the next level or not, whether you go to college or not, your performance in school is the most important thing.'' If you want to be successful after high school, grades are important. ”
I think everyone who works in basketball has a memory of a coach or mentor who had a deep impact on them. I wonder what that person was like for you.
I always say there are two. Dad, I know this may sound corny. My father was my coach from an early age and really fostered my passion for basketball. I spent the whole night in the driveway shooting and training after lights out and didn't want to come in for dinner until something worked out. He was always harder on me than the other kids, and sometimes I just didn't understand it. Looking back, I am grateful. It really made me the player and coach I was. His father was also very calm on the sidelines, so I'll always remember that. It's not always easy to do in the heat of the moment, but that's what I'm trying to do right now as a coach. You can't expect your players to stay calm while you're shouting and swearing on the sideline.
The other one is actually Terry Matsko, who currently attends Edgewood High School. I was the same age as his son Mike. So we grew up playing together and Terry was my AAU coach. I remember how important lots of practice and basics are. He was a guy who was very particular about the fundamentals and the importance of playing the game the right way, which I think is what we need today.
They will lose almost their entire starting lineup from last year, but they will return one important piece in Austin Carter. What excites you about coaching Austin heading into his senior season?
a lot. We sit down and already have a conversation. Austin joined JV as a freshman my first year. So we came to Aberdeen together and I'm very excited to be the one sending him off. He’s a phenomenal kid on and off the court. Most kids who receive an email from their teacher hold their breath and expect the worst. I received an email regarding Austin. It's a positive thing he's doing in the classroom. he is a leader He's everything you want in a kid and a basketball player. I'm very excited to work with him and hope to help him reach the next level and be as successful as possible.
We talked about some people who shaped you. Is there a moment that defined you as a coach?
I've had success with court coaching, but everyone wants to win. Obviously, I love winning. One of the reasons I love coaching is the competition. But last season's success in the classroom always stands out to me. I told the kids last year that this was the highlight of my coaching career. We all laughed about it because it had nothing to do with basketball. But take a group of kids who have failed before, and whose teachers have all but given up, and bring that group together, get them working hard in the classroom, and help them reach the goal of a 3.0 without anyone losing a grade. It's big.
Last year, we ended up with 8 wins and 12 losses, but we won 4 of our last 5 games. So it was one of those situations where everything comes full circle at the end of the season and success in the classroom comes first and success on the court comes later. They just showed their mettle and determination throughout the process.
What is life like for Eric outside of basketball?
The hardest part about coaching is being away from your family. I have a 2 year old son who just turned 2 in February. And earlier this month, my daughter was born. It's hard to be away from home, but her wife is very supportive. Last year she brought my son to almost all of our games. He comes to the locker room with me at halftime and at the end of the game. He has relationships with the players and the program. What we are building at Aberdeen is something really special and I love being part of that school, along with that community. And I hope my kids can continue to come to games and continue to support the Eagles and be a part of it all with me.