ALEX GHESQUIERE – HEAD COACH
Head Coach and GM Alex Ghesquiere returns to the sidelines in 2016 for his 3rd year at the helm of the Breeze.
Ghesquiere led the Breeze to a 10-4 record and playoff spot during the 2014 season (his first), and then coached the team to an unexpectedly solid 7-7 record in 2015 after the team lost several of its top players to expansion teams in Pittsburgh and Raleigh. Ghesquiere is an extremely decorated and well-respected coach, strategist and player throughout the ultimate community, and the DC Breeze organization is proud to have Ghesquiere on board in both roles once again for the 2016 season.
“I’m very excited to be a part of the Breeze and the AUDL again this year,” Ghesquiere announced. “The Breeze ownership and fans have been wonderful, and you can expect something great this season. This is a terrific time to be with the Breeze, and I’m proud to coach in 2016.”
Ghesquiere’s coaching legacy continues to grow… In September 2015 he was named the head coach of the USA open division team that will represent the United States in London next Summer and compete for the 2016 World Championship. Here’s more of Ghesquiere’s résumé:
- World Games coach, gold medal
- Revolver coach, 1 world championship, 2 nationals gold medals
- Scandal coach, 2 nationals gold medals
- Revolver player, 1 world championship, 1 nationals gold medal
“Needless to say, we couldn’t be happier to continue the relationship with Alex,” added Breeze majority owner Don Grage. “Given his pedigree and the overall positive trajectory of this franchise, we hope that someday soon we can add an AUDL championship to the impressive track record of success he has enjoyed at all the top levels of our sport.”
SARAH ITOH – ASSISTANT COACH
The DC Breeze are proud to welcome Sarah Itoh back as Assistant Coach for the 2016 season. Her great attitude, experience and Ultimate pedigree are all a huge plus for the Breeze squad and the organization as a whole, as evidenced by her successful efforts in the same role throughout the 2015 campaign.
Itoh has been playing Ultimate since 2003. She started in her freshman year of college where she was part of the founding team at George Mason University. She started playing club in 2009 with Scandal Ultimate in DC, then played two years of mixed, one with Ambiguous Grey. Then she returned to women’s ultimate with Scandal, and has been playing for them ever since including the two national championship campaigns.
MIKE LOPRESTI – ASSISTANT COACH
The DC Breeze welcome Mike LoPresti as Assistant Coach for the 2016 season. We’re excited to have his skill set and extensive coaching and playing experience alongside returning coaches Ghesquiere and Itoh to help lead the Breeze in 2016.
LoPresti began playing ultimate at the University of Pittsburgh. Since moving to Maryland, he has had the privilege of coaching the University of Maryland Helpful Corn (college women), Deadrise (youth club), Scandal (women’s club), and Truck Stop (men’s club). Mike also coaches with Ultimate Peace, a non-profit organization using ultimate to develop youth leadership in the Middle East.