Berks Catholic basketball coach Snip Esterly

Snip Esterly is approaching another milestone.  He's eight wins shy of 800 in his remarkable career.  This is his 35th season as a boys basketball head coach.  Esterly told Paul Roberts of SV Sports that he hasn't changed his coaching style.  "I don't think kids are really that different. I think it's the parents that are different," Esterly said with a laugh.  He has won eight Berks County championships, fourteen District 3 titles, and a state gold medal in 2007 with Reading Central Catholic.  Esterly spent 22 years as the head coach of the Cardinals and piled up 542 victories.  This will be his 13th season at Berks Catholic, which resulted from a merger between Central Catholic and Holy Name.  Esterly is (250-84) with the Saints and (792-217) overall.  He's only had two losing seasons over three and a-half decades.  Berks Catholic kicks off a new campaign this Friday in the COBL Winter Showcase at Exeter High School.  The Saints face Cedar Crest at 6:45pm.  Berks Catholic will take on Allentown Central Catholic on Saturday at 2:30pm.  Esterly will rely on the McKoy brothers this winter.  Josh, a 6'3 senior forward, averaged ten points last year.  He's the only returning starter from a (23-5) squad that won its second straight District 3-4A championship.  Kingston McKoy, a 6'2 sophomore guard, was the Saints' sixth man a season ago and an elite defender.  "I told him you gotta be a little more selfish. He loves to deliver the assists and that's just his nature, but he's gotta look to be a little more offensive-minded for us," stated Esterly.  Berks Catholic will also be counting on one of its top baseball players.  "The key is Parker Nein. I think he had a really good summer for us...His vertical leap is better. He's a strong kid and he can flat out shoot the ball," noted Esterly.  Nein is a 6'2 senior forward and a very good pitcher in the spring.  He's committed to Penn State Harrisburg for baseball.  Esterly is well known for being animated on the sideline.  "I've calmed down a lot. I really have," he replied with a smile.