Quinnipiac’s Tobias Esche makes Connecticut his new home
HAMDEN, Conn. (BVM) — Tobias Esche returns to Quinnipiac University as assistant coach to help kick start his coaching career.
Esche, a 28-year-old coach from Breman, Germany graduated from Quinnipiac in 2016 following a very successful career with the men’s soccer team. The coach comes over after being a key figure on the 2013 MAAC Championship squad.
The Germany native played three seasons with the Bobcats, transferring from North Carolina after his freshman year where he made 57 starts. Esche is a back-to-back All-MAAC Team choice (2013, 2014) and was selected in two NSCAA All North Atlantic Region Second Teams.
After his graduate season at Southern New Hampshire University, Esche returned to Germany after signing with semi-professional team BSV Rehden. This is where his love of coaching began, after coaching the U11 BSV Rehden Academy team.
While in Germany, Esche obtained a UEFA B License, something not many soccer coaches around the world have due to their difficulty to obtain. The addition will add a lot of knowledge and experience to the Bobcats program.
“I’ve wanted to be a coach for a while,” Esche said. “I learnt many things from my experience gaining my licenses and I’m hoping to make a difference in American soccer.”
While with the Bobcats, Esche also runs his own personal sessions for juniors, as well as his own team with Cheshire United where he’s found great success.
“I love working with all ages and both genders,” Esche said. “If they are willing to learn, I want to help them become the best players they can be.”
Esche coaches one-on-one throughout Connecticut, from Bristol, to Hamden, to North Haven. He strives on providing quality coaching to young players and loves what he does.
“Every player I train has different personalities, but they all want to train and improve,” Esche said. “It’s the kids that make me want to train every day because they always leave with a smile, and that make’s everything worth it.”
Even with his love of coaching young players, Esche aims for higher level coaching, and is starting with his assistant role at Quinnipiac.
“When head coach Eric Da Costa offered me the spot, I jumped at the opportunity right away,” Esche said. “I’m here for the experience and to learn, and Quinnipiac is the perfect place to be.”
Esche helped Quinnipiac to an impressive 7-2 season, finishing as regular season conference champions, before ultimately losing in the MAAC Championship.
Being a defender, Esche was able to help structure the backline of the Bobcats, conceding nine goals in nine games, the best per game average in the conference. A successful first season with the Bobcats is only the beginning for Esche.
“I really enjoyed this season,” Esche said. “It was obviously disappointing we couldn’t get over the line, but these are a great bunch of boys and next year we’ll be ready to take the best one again.”
Esche found great success with the Bobcats as a player. He is now back to find the same success as a coach while kick starting his coaching career.
