Wilkes University Athletics

Esau joins the Wilkes men's ice hockey staff as an assistant coach for the 2025-26 season.

Prior to joining Wilkes, the Pittsburgh, Pa. native spent two seasons in the Federal Prospects Hockey League (FPHL) as the head coach of the Watertown Wolves in 2023 and the Dashers Hockey Club in 2025.

Esau brings extensive experience as both a player and coach spanning over 30 years. As a player, he was a standout forward for North Allegheny Senior High School and the Pittsburgh Stars Junior A Hockey Club, which eventually led to him playing professionally for the Mobile Mystics of the ECHL in 1992, as well as the Las Vegas Aces of the PSHL from 1996-1997. After finishing his pro career, Esau began his coaching career where he has worked all over the country, from the high school level all the way up to professional hockey. He has led teams in the NA3HL, USPHL, WSHL, and GMHL. 

He started as the head coach of the freshman hockey team at West Allegheny High School in 1997, before moving on to Bethel Park High School to become the head coach of their freshman hockey team in 1998. In 2000, Esau became an assistant coach for the Baltimore Stars Midget AA Hockey Club for one season, and the following year became the head coach of Baltimore Stars Bantam AA. During his three seasons at the helm, he compiled a 48-12 record and won three division titles.

From 2005-14, Esau was the head coach for Shaler Area Varsity, Cannon McMillan Varsity AAA, Mars Junior Varsity, and Chartiers Valley Junior Varsity. In 2014, he became a regional scout for the Helena Bighorns of the NA3HL for one season, and then moved on to the Kalkaska Rhinos of the USPHL as an assistant coach from 2015-2016. In 2016-17, he took on the dual role of assistant coach and assistant general manager of the New York Junior Aviators.

Starting in 2018, Esau continued to work as head coach and in the front office for various teams across multiple leagues. He spent the 2017-2018 season with the Kingsville Kings (GMHL), 2018-2019 with the Evansville Jr. Thunderbolts, 2019-2020 with the El Paso Rhinos (WSHL), 2020-2021 with the Yellowstone Quake, 2021-2022 with the Milwaukee Power, and 2022-2023 with the Texas Brahams (NA3HL).

He received his associate degree from the Community College of Allegheny County in 1994, and attended the University of Pittsburgh.