McPherson College has found its next men’s basketball coach, and they didn’t have far to go to find him. Andrew Ehling, McPherson College athletics director, has announced that T.J. Eskildsen will take the reins of the Bulldog men’s basketball program. Eskildsen takes over for Tim Swartzendruber, who resigned last month to become the new athletic director at Pratt Community College.
Eskildsen is no stranger to McPherson College and the Bulldog men’s basketball program, having spent the past nine years as the lead assistant to Coach Swartzendruber. He has had his hands in nearly every aspect of the program so it should be a relatively seamless transition moving forward, according to Ehling.
Eskildsen cut his teeth in coaching as a volunteer assistant coach for the women’s basketball program at St. Ambrose University in 2003 under his father, Ted Eskildsen, the head coach of the Fighting Bees. He later attended Iowa Wesleyan University on a basketball scholarship, but health issues cut his playing days short. When it was no longer feasible for him to continue his playing career, he was given the opportunity to be a student assistant coach under Head Coach Alan Magnani.
Upon graduating from Iowa Wesleyan, Eskildsen joined the men’s basketball coaching staff at William Woods University in 2007. He spent the next three seasons with the Owls and Head Coach Drew Grzella, before joining the Bulldog staff in the summer of 2010. From the moment he arrived on campus, Eskildsen had the confidence of Coach Swartzendruber. He was named lead assistant and recruiting coordinator, served as the Bulldogs’ head of scouting, and was responsible for many of the offensive sets that the Bulldogs ran the past several seasons.
In addition to his duties with the men’s basketball team, Eskildsen has also served as a Resident Director and supervisor of Resident Assistants. He received his BA in Sports Management from Iowa Wesleyan in 2007 then went on to earn a Master of Education degree from William Woods in 2009.
Of the opportunity to lead the Bulldog Men’s Basketball program, Coach Eskildsen said, “I am humbled and honored to be named the head men’s basketball coach at McPherson College. I would like to thank Athletic Director Andrew Ehling, President Michael Schneider, and everyone on the search committee for their belief in me. I would also like to thank Tim Swartzendruber who hired me as his assistant nine years ago. McPherson College is a special place to me. I look forward to being able to lead a special group of student athletes on and off the court. I can’t wait to get started. It’s a great day to be a Bulldog!”
Coach Swartzendruber endorsed Coach Eskildsen’s promotion saying, “I’m extremely pleased to know Coach Eskildsen will assume the position of head men’s basketball coach at McPherson College. He has been a loyal person in the basketball program for the past nine years and has been dedicated to the college as well. During my tenure I continued to give Coach Eskildsen more responsibilities and he did a great job. His knowledge of the KCAC and McPherson College will make him a great fit for the job. I’m excited for him, the basketball program, and McPherson College.”
Ehling commented on Coach Eskildsen’s promotion to head coach saying, “T.J. has been one of the top assistants in the KCAC for years. It’s time for him to show what he can do as a Head Coach. I am thrilled to work with T.J. as he transitions to be a head coach. He is very loyal to McPherson College and has a deep understanding of what it takes to be successful here.”
Coach Eskidsen has already assumed the head coaching duties, conducting offseason workouts with the team, and hitting the recruiting trail. He and his wife Erin, will be transitioning out of the residence halls at the end of the semester, and are in the process of looking for a new house in the McPherson area.
will take the reins of the Bulldog men’s basketball program. Eskildsen takes over for Tim Swartzendruber, who resigned last month to become the new athletic director at Pratt Community College.
Eskildsen is no stranger to McPherson College and the Bulldog men’s basketball program, having spent the past nine years as the lead assistant to Coach Swartzendruber. He has had his hands in nearly every aspect of the program so it should be a relatively seamless transition moving forward, according to Ehling.
Eskildsen cut his teeth in coaching as a volunteer assistant coach for the women’s basketball program at St. Ambrose University in 2003 under his father, Ted Eskildsen, the head coach of the Fighting Bees. He later attended Iowa Wesleyan University on a basketball scholarship, but health issues cut his playing days short. When it was no longer feasible for him to continue his playing career, he was given the opportunity to be a student assistant coach under Head Coach Alan Magnani.
Upon graduating from Iowa Wesleyan, Eskildsen joined the men’s basketball coaching staff at William Woods University in 2007. He spent the next three seasons with the Owls and Head Coach Drew Grzella, before joining the Bulldog staff in the summer of 2010. From the moment he arrived on campus, Eskildsen had the confidence of Coach Swartzendruber. He was named lead assistant and recruiting coordinator, served as the Bulldogs’ head of scouting, and was responsible for many of the offensive sets that the Bulldogs ran the past several seasons.
In addition to his duties with the men’s basketball team, Eskildsen has also served as a Resident Director and supervisor of Resident Assistants. He received his BA in Sports Management from Iowa Wesleyan in 2007 then went on to earn a Master of Education degree from William Woods in 2009.
Of the opportunity to lead the Bulldog Men’s Basketball program, Coach Eskildsen said, “I am humbled and honored to be named the head men’s basketball coach at McPherson College. I would like to thank Athletic Director Andrew Ehling, President Michael Schneider, and everyone on the search committee for their belief in me. I would also like to thank Tim Swartzendruber who hired me as his assistant nine years ago. McPherson College is a special place to me. I look forward to being able to lead a special group of student athletes on and off the court. I can’t wait to get started. It’s a great day to be a Bulldog!”
Coach Swartzendruber endorsed Coach Eskildsen’s promotion saying, “I’m extremely pleased to know Coach Eskildsen will assume the position of head men’s basketball coach at McPherson College. He has been a loyal person in the basketball program for the past nine years and has been dedicated to the college as well. During my tenure I continued to give Coach Eskildsen more responsibilities and he did a great job. His knowledge of the KCAC and McPherson College will make him a great fit for the job. I’m excited for him, the basketball program, and McPherson College.”
Ehling commented on Coach Eskildsen’s promotion to head coach saying, “T.J. has been one of the top assistants in the KCAC for years. It’s time for him to show what he can do as a Head Coach. I am thrilled to work with T.J. as he transitions to be a head coach. He is very loyal to McPherson College and has a deep understanding of what it takes to be successful here.”
Coach Eskidsen has already assumed the head coaching duties, conducting offseason workouts with the team, and hitting the recruiting trail. He and his wife Erin, will be transitioning out of the residence halls at the end of the semester, and are in the process of looking for a new house in the McPherson area.
https://macbulldogs.com/news/2019/4/11/eskildsen-promoted-to-head-coach-of-mens-basketball.aspx
