T.J. Eskildsen enters his 4th season as the head coach of the Bulldog men’s basketball coach. In his inaugural season in 2019-20 the Bulldogs finished 21-11 overall, and 15-9 in KCAC play. It was the programs most wins since the 2011-12 season and their 4th place finish in the KCAC standings was their highest mark since they won the conference that same year.
Prior to taking over the reins of the program, Coach Eskildsen spent nine seasons with the Bulldogs as an assistant coach under Coach Swartzendruber. During that time, the Bulldogs qualified for the NAIA Division II National Tournament four times (2010-2013). The Bulldogs also won a regular season conference championship (2011-12), and won two KCAC tournament championships (2012, 2013), with Coach Eskildsen on the bench.
A native of Davenport, Iowa, Eskildsen played two seasons from 1998-2000 at Holyoke Catholic High School (Mass.), before finishing his prep career at Assumption High School in Davenport, Iowa.
Eskildsen played one season of collegiate basketball at the NCAA Division III Dominican University in River Forest, Ill. Following his brief stint at DU, he transferred to Saint Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa, before finishing his bachelor of arts in sports management from Iowa Wesleyan College, Mount Pleasant, Iowa, in 2007. While at Iowa Wesleyan, Eskildsen served as a student assistant coach for the Tigers' 2006 conference championship team that went on to play in the NAIA Division II national tournament.
He continued his education and coaching career at William Woods University, serving as the men’s basketball assistant coach. Eskildsen was instrumental in recruiting the Owls American Midwest Conference 2009-10 Freshman of the Year. He graduated in May of 2009 with a master of education in Athletics/Activities Administration.
Coach Eskildsen is married to wife Erin, who is the Director of the McPherson County Humane Society. They currently reside in McPherson, Kansas.
