Phoenix St. Mary’s High School announced on Thursday, July 9, that Joseph Esposito will lead the boys basketball program.
He replaces Damin Lopez, who resigned following the Section 7 tournament in June. Lopez led St. Mary’s to the Open Division state championship game last season, where the Knights fell to Sunnyslope. He led the Knights to two 4A state championships in his nine seasons as coach.
Esposito has extensive college coaching experience. He led Laveen Cactus Canyon (formerly Cesar Chavez) for two years, before stepping down in 2022 to become an assistant coach at Missouri Kansas City.
“First and foremost, I want to thank God for blessing me with this incredible opportunity,” Esposito said in a St. Mary’s news release. “Throughout my coaching career, I have always believed that every door opens for a reason, and I am truly grateful for the chance to lead the nationally known basketball program at Saint Mary’s Catholic High School.”
St. Mary’s graduated 7-foot McDonald’s All-American Cameron Williams, who is now at Duke. The Knights played in the national showcase Section 7 with returning guards Carter Bagley and Mick Riordan.
The Knights picked up a big addition in June with 6-foot-5 wing Martray Bagley (no relation to Carter) and 6-1 guard Pierce Harrington. Martray Bagley, the brother of Denver Nuggets forward Marvin Bagley III, transferred from Dream City. Harrington transferred from Scottsdale Saguaro.
Esposito will have to make sure guys want to stay at St. Mary’s with the summer movement of coaches. But he feels good that, even if the cupboard is bare, he can keep the Knights prominent.
“I had 40 years of coaching college basketball,” Esposito told The Republic. “I was ready to do whatever. I was going to coach high school baseball and chew some seeds. And the St. Mary’s job opened up, and I’m like, ‘Whoa.’
“It’s a great job. We’ll get it going again.”
The Knights are also expected to give quality playing time to incoming freshman Oba Adigun, who is 6-6 and can play inside and outside.
Esposito’s college coaching stops include UNLV, the University of Memphis, Texas Tech, the University of Minnesota, Tennessee State University, Angelo State University and Assumption University in Maine.
“We were looking for a leader who could build upon the proud tradition of Saint Mary’s Basketball while embracing the values that define our school,” St. Mary’s athletic director Jose Lucero said in the release. “Coach Esposito’s experience,leadership, and passion for developing young men made him the ideal choice to lead our program. We are thrilled to welcome Coach Esposito and his wife, Mary, to the Saint Mary’s community.”
Richard Obert has been covering high school sports since the 1980s for The Arizona Republic. He also covers Grand Canyon University athletics and the Arizona Rattlers. To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Joseph Esposito to lead Phoenix St. Mary’s HS boys basketball
Discover more from NAIRAVOICE.COM.NG
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
