Chris Esquivel is in his sixth season at the helm of the men's lacrosse program at Davenport University. The program is in the midst of a major change converting from a club team (MCLA) into NCAA Division II. That process began in 2020 but the Panthers were only able to play six games due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has continued the program's winning tradition posting a 44-27 record over his first five years. In 2019, the Panthers posted a 5-9 record in their final season in the MCLA. The team started 0-4, but rebounded to win five of their last nine games. Josh Jubenville and Nick Mulcahy were both named CLC First Team All-Conference. Jubenville signed with the Toronto Rock of the National Lacrosse League in October of 2019.
Esquivel guided the Panthers to an 11-3 record during the 2018 season capped by senior Bryan Larocque becoming the MCLA career points record holder with 345. Larocque was named a Second Team All-American and the Panthers finished the season ranked 18th in MCLA Division I.
In his first season at Davenport (2016), Esquivel guided the Panthers to the first-ever NAIA Invitational National Championship. Along the way, Esquivel was named CCLA Coach of the Year while setting a program record for wins (20) and points (660) in a season.
The team was 20-2, finished first in the WHAC and second in CCLA. Esquivel produced eight players to the First Team All-WHAC, 12 All-CCLA, four NAIA All-Americans and one MCLA All Americans. In addition, Esquivel produced the WHAC and CCLA Offensive Player of the Year during the 2016 season.
Esquivel rejoined the Panthers after spending the 2015-2016 school year at NCAA Division II Colorado State University – Pueblo for the Thunderwolves inaugural men's lacrosse season. Prior to his stint with CSU-Pueblo, he spent two seasons as an assistant coach for the Davenport men's team and one with the Davenport women in 2014. With the men's squad, Esquivel coached 15 Central Collegiate Lacrosse Association (CCLA) All-Conference players, four CCLA Offensive Player of the Year recipients and seven Men's Collegiate Lacrosse Association (MCLA) All-Americans. During Esquivel's tenure at Davenport, the Panthers appeared in four CCLA Conference Tournaments.
Prior to coaching at Davenport, Esquivel spent three years as an assistant coach at Grand Valley State University from 2010-2012. At Grand Valley State, Esquivel was a part of a program that advanced to the 2011 and 2012 MCLA National Championship Tournament Final Four and finished as the 2012 MCLA national runner-up. Grand Valley State also won back-to-back CCLA Conference Tournament titles in 2011 and 2012 under Esquivel's watch. Esquivel also coached the 2012 MCLA Player of the Year.
In addition to his collegiate coaching duties, Esquivel was also an assistant coach at East Grand Rapids High School and Forest Hills Central High School. During the 2016 season, he was an assistant at FHC where he helped guide the Rangers to a MHSAA D2 State Championship and MHSAA season scoring record. While at Forest Hills Central, Esquivel coached five all-state and two All-American athletes. He was an assistant at EGR from 2009-2014. While at East Grand Rapids, Esquivel coached 14 all-conference, nine all-state student-athletes and one All-American.
