Biography

Esslinger led the Homewood girls to their fourth straight state championship in May. Led by sprinter Jasmine Griffin, who won three individual gold medals along with a relay gold, Homewood took home seven gold medals in individual events, plus one in the 4X400 relay. The state title was the tenth overall for Esslinger, who is head coach of the boys’ team as well.

Since taking-over in 2005, Homewood girls and boys have captured ten state titles with nine runner-up finishes. The track and field title gave the Homewood girls a three-peat this year under Esslinger. The Homewood girls also won the cross country and indoor track state titles during the 2016-17 school year.

Coach Esslinger is the second coach from Alabama to win the NHSCA National Girls’ Track and Field Coach of the Year award. Jim Tate of St. Paul’s Episcopal School won it in 2010.

Esslinger remained the coach at Homewood until he was hired as the head coach at Hewitt-Trussville High School in the spring of 2020. Over his tenure at Homewood, he coached 31 State Championships in Cross Country and Track and Field.

Esslinger has continued his winning ways at Hewitt-Trussville. In his first season, both the boys and girls won 7A Indoor State Championships. In the Outdoor State Championships, the boys and girls finished in second place.

Records

Coached 31 State Championship Teams