Catholic High School Announces New Basketball Coach

LITTLE ROCK  – Catholic High School head basketball coach Tim Ezzi has resigned from his position after 22 years in the head coaching spot. Ezzi’s career included multiple state tournament appearances and culminated with a 2008 state championship win. He will remain at Catholic High as Athletic Director as well as health/PE instructor.

“Tim is a Catholic High mainstay and we’re thankful for his leadership and dedication all these years. He is a passionate competitor in everything he does and devoting more time to the AD spot will be reflective of that,” said Catholic High principal, Steve Straessle.

The head coaching spot will stay in the Ezzi family as Catholic High is pleased to announce the promotion of Todd Ezzi from assistant to head coach. Todd Ezzi is from North Little Rock and is a 1998 graduate of Catholic High. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Arkansas Tech University with a degree in education in 2003. Ezzi comes from a long line of coaches including his grandfather, uncle, and, of course, his father.

His coaching career began in Pine Bluff as he was head basketball and head baseball coach at St. Joseph High School. For the last eight years, he has served as his father’s assistant. Todd is married to his wife of ten years, Melissa, and has three children. “Todd has an unmatched work ethic and brings a load of experience as well as new ideas to the head coaching position. We’re enthused about his promotion and look forward to his leadership,” said Straessle.

Filling the assistant coach’s position is Michael Drake, a 2009 graduate of Catholic High and 2013 graduate of Christian Brothers University where he captained the men’s basketball team. Drake earned a degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. He was named Gulf South Conference Freshman of the Year 2010, Gulf South First Team All-Conference 2013, National Association of Basketball Coaches First-Team All-District 2013, NABC Division II All-Star 2013 and NCAA Division II Honorable Mention All-American 2013. He was also on the Gulf South Conference Academic Honor Roll 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013.