MEN'S BASKETBALL

After an exhaustive national search with over 120 applicants, Caltech got its man in MIT's associate head coach, Oliver "Doc" Eslinger, who spent the past six years as the top assistant men's basketball coach in Cambridge, MA.

"Oliver is an ideal fit for Caltech as his MIT background really allows him to hit the ground running here," commented Caltech director of athletics Wendell Jack.

Eslinger was responsible for all phases of the MIT program, including practice and game preparation, on-the-floor coaching, scouting, recruiting, scheduling, video editing and exchange, travel management, budget facilitation, alumni relations and facility coordination.

The Engineers compiled a 87-73 record (.544) since Eslinger joined the staff in 2002. Precedents were set for the only two post-season appearances (ECAC) and two tip-off tournament championships in team history. In 2006, the program achieved the most wins in its 105-year history (21-9).

Nearly every season under Eslinger, MIT ranked nationally in the top 10 in field goal percentage defense, scoring defense, rebounding margin or free throw percentage. He coached the 2006 team when it traveled to Taiwan and won the Kainan Invitational International Tournament Championship, and he was instrumental in developing MIT's only d3hoops.com All-American, ESPN the Magazine Academic All-American, and NEWMAC Player of the Year. He also recruited and coached the lone Jostens Trophy finalist from the Institute, the only two NEWMAC Rookies of the Year, and 14 NEWMAC all-academic team members. Eslinger received an MIT Gold Award in 2006, and was a coach for the 2008 NEBCA all-star game.

Eslinger made the trek to Cambridge after previously serving as head coach at Boston University Academy and as an assistant coach at his alma mater, Bethlehem Central High School in Delmar, NY. He stays actively involved in camps and clinics at all levels, making significant contributions to Bentley, Harvard, Boston University, Boston College, Rising Star, Crossover Sports in Shanghai, China, and most recently, the Matt Lottich Life Skills Basketball Camp in San Carlos, CA. In addition to his coaching positions, he has worked with various athletes and teams as a sport and performance consultant.

Eslinger is a 1997 graduate of Clark University in Worcester, MA, where he was a starting guard and majored in psychology. He earned his doctorate in counseling and sport psychology from Boston University in 2002.

To learn more about Eslinger, check out his web site, Doc's Head Games.