Esler to Speak at Coaches Clinic

Through the years as a high school basketball coach, Greg Esler has prepared young men to play the game they love at a higher level in college while instilling in them important lessons that will help them in their life off the court.

Esler, who is also the director for St. Clair Shores, will share his experience and lessons with a larger audience this weekend at the Basketball Coaches of Michigan Clinic in Lansing.

"It is a tremendous honor," said Esler, who finds similiarites in being successful in both jobs. "I have surrounded myself with good people who dedicate themselves to be the best and people who are always trying to get better."

During the three-day clinic, Esler will share the stage with other coaches including Greg Kampe from Oakland University, John Beilein from the University of Michigan and Brad Stevens, who guided Butler University to the NCAA Championship game the past two years.

"Both jobs are challenging, and I like a challenge," said Esler, a devoted family man who also puts his heart into both of his vocations. "I am dedicated to parks and recreation and basketball. I am really privileged in both accords."

Nearly 800 coaches are expected to attend the conference which will cover a variety of coaching topics and clinics.

Esler will be speaking on "press breakers" on Saturday afternoon, and how teams can beat pressure from opposing teams. Esler will the be the only male high school coach at the clinic.

This style of play - beating pressure from an opposing team - helped De La Salle win the Operation Friendship game in March against Detroit Southeastern, which had a number of NCAA Division I prospects and ultimately lost in the Class A state championship game.

Esler, who has won more than 400 games in his career, has guided De La Salle to the Catholic League Central Division title each of the last four years, and has won three consecutive Catholic League A-B Division Championships.

While in Lansing, Esler will be in good company of champions.

In 1994, he won the Class B state championship with . This team featured Travis Conlan, who played at the University of Michigan and is the current director of basketball operations for the Wolverines, and Patrick Flaherty, who is an emergency room doctor at Mount Clemens General.

"It is a great thing to be able to coach and mentor young people and see that they do well," Esler said. "It is great to win basketball games, but when you seen them in the business world, or giving back to the community, that is the most gratifying thing for me."