Esterkamp succeeds Taylor as head coach of Science City Jena

Bundesliga basketball club Science City Jena has found a new head coach. The American Steven Michael Esterkamp comes to Jena from second-division club Eisbären Bremerhaven and replaces his compatriot Mike Taylor. The latter had ended his commitment after five games as a "fireman" and the successful relegation to the second division and returned to the USA for family reasons.

"I am very excited about the opportunity to coach this club and look forward to working with everyone involved. I can't wait to get to work with Science City Jena and build a team that will fight in every game and make the club and our fans proud," said the new Head Coach.

Esterkamp already worked as an assistant coach in Gotha

Esterkamp is not breaking new ground in Thuringia. He was already an assistant coach at Oettinger Rockets Gotha from 2014 to 2017. He then moved to Wolfenbüttel, Paderborn and Bremerhaven for the past two seasons as head coach.

"It was a very difficult decision to leave the Eisbären. Everyone I've worked with over the past two seasons has been great. It was always fun to come to work because of the people who are here," said the 45-year-old, who played for ratiopharm Ulm, Rasta Vechta and s.Oliver Baskets Würzburg, among others.