Central Catholic is excited to announce that Paul (PJ) Escobar ‘14 has been named the New Head Basketball Coach for the school.
Coach Escobar ‘14 is a Central Catholic graduate, where he was a three-year varsity letterman, earning First-Team All-State honors his junior and senior seasons. During his collegiate career, Escobar earned a scholarship to Concordia University, leading the Tornadoes to a 2015 ASC Conference Championship in his freshman season. The following year, Escobar accumulated Newcomer of the Year and All-Conference honors at North Lake Junior College, before transferring to Our Lady of the Lake University, where he was a 2 time all-conference player. He helped the team reach the Elite Eight in the NAIA Tournament in 2016 and set the school record for career three-point percentage in his final two seasons. Escobar earned his Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at Our Lady of the Lake University in May 2020.
He began coaching as the lead assistant coach at Texas A&M University-Texarkana (TAMUT) in the 2021-2022 season. Prior to his return to Central Catholic, Escobar served as the Head Basketball Coach at St. Anthony Catholic High School for three seasons from 2022 to 2025. Under his leadership, he helped build a winning culture, leading to a historic 35-8 season in 2024-2025 — the most wins in school history. That 2025 campaign also saw the team crowned District Champions and advance to the 2025 TAPPS 5A State Semifinals.
Coach Escobar has a proven track record of helping develop great talent on the court, producing multiple players with all-district, all-state, and San Antonio All-Star Game Honors. His leadership and impact were further recognized when he was selected as Head Coach for the 2025 SAAABC All-Star Game.
Off the court, Escobar is a devoted family man and happily married to his wife Alexis; they have one daughter, Camila Rae.
“For me, it is all about getting the opportunity to lead these young men and be a part of their journey”, said Escobar. “It is an honor to represent Central Catholic and help build a program of energy, effort, and grit. I’m looking forward to working with these young men. I can tell they are tough and overall a great group to be around.”
“I can’t wait to be back around the Central Catholic community,” said Escobar. “There is a deep legacy and a lot of pride here in this basketball program, and it is truly special to have the opportunity to have an impact on these young men on and off the court.”
When asked about Coach Escobar’s potential impact on the program, Executive Athletic Director Edward Ybarra ‘83, says, “Coach Escobar is no stranger to Central Catholic. A proud graduate of our school, he was a standout player on the court during his time here, known for his relentless energy, unmatched effort, positive attitude, and fierce defensive presence. Now, he returns to lead our program with the same passion and drive that defined his playing days.”
President Jason Longoria ‘96 reflects on the moment by saying, “In the past 65 years of Central Catholic’s legendary basketball program, Coach Escobar will be only the 5th head coach to take the reigns. He will follow the path set forth by legendary San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame Coach Joe Cortez ‘50, Edward Ybarra ‘83, Romy Vela ‘60, and Bruce McConaghy.”
“Our Hire for Mission process saw over 45 applicants”, adds Longoria, “there were many great candidates we were blessed to interview, but in the end, all the roads led us to Coach Escobar. I look forward to watching him grow the Central Catholic Basketball program and ‘add to her glorious name’.”
The Button Basketball season officially kicks off on October 22, 2025.