One of Arizona’s most tradition-rich high school basketball programs has found its next leader. Joe Esposito, a highly respected coach with nearly four decades of experience at the high school, NCAA Division-I, and NCAA Division-II levels, has been named the new Head boys basketball coach at St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix.
Esposito takes over for Damin Lopez and the Lopez family, who spent (21) seasons leading the Knights and helped establish St. Mary’s as one of the premier high school basketball programs nationally. During Lopez’s tenure, the Knights produced numerous standout players, including NBA players Channing Frye and Jerryd Bayless, and most recently developing Cameron Williams, who signed with Duke University and will begin his collegiate career with the Blue Devils this fall.
Esposito brings an extensive coaching résumé that spans nearly 40 years and includes success at multiple levels of college basketball. Among his early collegiate stops was Assumption College, where he served as both an assistant coach and Associate Head Coach. During his tenure, the program captured three consecutive Northeast-10 Conference Championships, helping establish Esposito as one of the rising coaches in the profession.
He also spent time on the coaching staff at Tennessee State University, and spent (12) years under legendary Head Coach Tubby Smith, before stints @ UNLV and, most recently, UMKC as an Associate Head Coach to Marv Mensy. Esposito has built a career that has been defined by player development, program building and winning basketball. Espositio also previously coached Cesar Chavez High School from 2020 to 2022, and won consecutive Region titles.
Now, Esposito takes over one of Arizona’s most prestigious basketball programs, one with a rich tradition of state championships, nationally recognized players, and a long history of developing collegiate and professional talent. Replacing a coach who spent more than two decades building the St. Mary’s program will not be an easy task, but Esposito’s experience and reputation make him an outstanding choice to lead the Knights into their next era.
With nearly 40 years of coaching experience and a proven track record at every level of the game, Esposito possesses the leadership, knowledge, and basketball acumen to continue the winning tradition that has made St. Mary’s one of the nation’s most respected high school basketball programs. As the Knights begin a new chapter, they do so with one of the game’s most experienced and accomplished coaches at the helm.
