Raul Esquerra - Volunteer Instructional Assistant - Staff Directory

Staff Directory

Raul Esquerra

Title:
Volunteer Instructional Assistant

Raul Esquerra joined the Blue Demons as a volunteer instructional assistant in October 2025. A proud DePaul alumnus, Esquerra brings a blend of collegiate, professional, and corporate experience to Lincoln Park.

Esquerra returns to DePaul as part of head coach Matt Brothers’ staff, offering a deep connection to the program he once represented as a student-athlete. A former member of the Blue Demons’ men’s tennis team under head coaches Chris Kannenberg and George Lott, a multiple Grand Slam champion and International Tennis Hall of Famer, Esquerra competed primarily at the No. 2 singles position. In addition to his tennis accomplishments, he was also a letterwinner for DePaul’s track & field team, specializing in the 800 meters.

Before returning to collegiate coaching, Esquerra served as the Director of Tennis at a premier clay-court facility in Chicago. Earlier in his career, he was a nationally ranked junior who competed in the 16-and-under Orange Bowl and later earned a Masters ITF world ranking. His continued involvement in elite competition has included invitations from ATP/WTA coach José María Arenas to join his team during four Grand Slam tournaments, most recently the 2025 US Open.

A versatile professional beyond the court, Esquerra holds degrees in Economics and Finance along with an MBA from DePaul’s Kellstadt Graduate School of Business. He previously served as a Senior Vice President at a major financial institution in Chicago and is a partner in several technology startups. He resides in Evanston with his family.

“Coming back to DePaul truly feels like returning home after a long journey away. I’ve long held great admiration for Coach Brothers; both personally and for how he leads a Division I program the right way. I’m also thrilled to be surrounded by the same confident, welcoming DePaul culture that embraced me as a young student-athlete. I received a great education then, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to pay it forward. It’s hard to describe just how excited I am to work with Coach Brothers, the team, and the staff.”