Cal’s Esquer returning to Stanford roots
One-time Cardinal shortstop to follow retired Marquess
David Esquer stepped down as Cal’s baseball coach after 18 years on Friday to become the next baseball coach at Stanford, his alma mater.
Esquer succeeds Mark Marquess, who retired after 41 years earlier this month. Esquer was the starting shortstop on Stanford’s 1987 NCAA championship team and served as an assistant with the Cardinal from 1991-96.
With the Bears, Esquer compiled a record of 525467-2 and led the team to five NCAA Regionals. In 2011, Cal advanced to the College World Series and Esquer was named the National Coach of the Year. He was Pac-10 Coach of the Year in 2001.
“I am just so happy for this opportunity and so humbled to be following Coach Marquess,” Esquer said in a statement issued by Stanford. “It is incredible to think back to when I came to campus as a walkon shortstop from Salinas, and to know I will be running the same program.
“As a coach, I have my own voice, but I will continue to bring the energy that Coach Marquess brought every day, and maintain the legacy of a program that proved you can achieve the highest standards academically and still sustain excellence on the field.”
In a statement on the Stanford athletics web site, Marquess said, “Stanford has made a great choice in David. He is a man of integrity, and I think Stanford is very lucky to have him. I know he appreciates the mission of Stanford and its commitment to excellence academically and athletically.
“He is a great competitor and a real winner. His record speaks for itself. He has had success and longevity in what we feel is the toughest conference in the country, and what he did to save the program at Cal, and then bring them to the World Series, is incredible. I am excited for him and the future of Stanford baseball.”
Cal said in a statement it would immediately begin a “national search” for its next coach and that Brad Sanfilippo will serve as interim coach.
“In 18 years as head coach, David Esquer has represented this University with the highest of integrity and character,” Bears athletic director Mike Williams said. “He has worked tirelessly to ensure Cal baseball is not only among the most competitive in the Pac-12 on the field but also in the classroom and in the community.”
“We certainly understand the emotion of returning to coach his alma mater. We thank him for his incredible dedication to the studentathletes in this program as well as the greater Cal Baseball community during his tenure in Berkeley.”