Preparation is a big factor with our team. We have to give everyone the most information and the greatest opportunity to win. -- Derek Eisler

The new coach breathed a fire of competitiveness and determination that burned quickly into the souls of his team. The team parents were uncertain about this new coach who was always demanding meetings, attention to detail, structure. The players, however, respected their new coach. A team that had been mediocre for several years blossomed into a cohesive unit that quickly ascended the ladder of Northern California youth hockey. Kevin Constantine knew the team he was coaching had a special desire to excel and improve, and none of those players' desire was more intense than forward Derek Eisler's.

For three seasons, Constantine coached teams in the Squaw Valley youth hockey program. For three seasons, Derek Eisler played center on the team's first line. The young coach and his star player developed a mutual admiration for each other's work ethic.

"Derek was a very talented player at that age," Constantine recalls. "Because of his athleticism, he was the best center who played on that team. He was one of those natural athletes who, because of his God-given ability, would excel at any sport he picked up."

"Kevin and I love hockey," says Eisler today, "and that is probably why we hit it off so well together. By knowing each other through the years, we developed a respect for what each of us was doing that turned into a friendship."

Eisler and Constantine took their coach/player relationship from Reno to Iowa in fall 1985, when Kevin took over the Northern Iowa Huskies of the United States Hockey League -- America's most competitive Junior A hockey league. Constantine invited Eisler with him to Mason City, Iowa, and Eisler accepted. Friendship and loyalty aside, Eisler was the last man cut from that squad.

"He said I could stay until Christmas and hope for an injury," Eisler recalls, "and within 10 games I was in the lineup. I ended up being the team's Most Improved Player."

Nevertheless, Eisler's dreams of a future playing hockey ended that next summer when he injured a knee during an alumni soccer game.

"For years I had been a hockey player," said Eisler. "Now that ability had been taken away from me and I didn't know what to do. I had to explore some new avenues in my life. And what I discovered was that my life was hockey. That realization made me call Kevin."

Their paths crossed again in 1988. Eisler had been away from hockey for two years, but heard that Constantine had moved to Rochester, Minn., of the USHL. Eisler called Constantine and asked him about becoming an assistant coach. "Kevin was very professional about my call," Eisler said. "He made me show that I was serious about getting back into the game."

Eisler was about to become Constantine's assistant when Kevin was hired by the IHL's Kalamazoo Wings. Eisler went to Minnesota anyway and worked for a season before returning to California to co-coach a Junior C team in Stockton from 1989-91.

In 1991, Constantine was coaching at a clinic in the Bay Area when his former player arrived for the coaches' session. Kevin directed Derek to the Minnesota Hockey Camps in Brainerd, Minn. "Kevin told me that if I was serious about leaving California, I should come to Brainerd," Eisler said.

"I worked as a graduate assistant at St. Cloud State in 1992-93, working on-ice and off-ice," Eisler said. "I was involved with offseason training and conditioning, breaking down videotape, monitoring study hall. I was able to experience a little bit of everything."

Derek Eisler was 'very talented' in Squaw Valley's youth program, Kevin Constantine says. [Actually, this photo is from Derek's Squirt Team, when he played for Berkeley - Chuck]

When he returned to Brainerd the following summer, Eisler took another lesson from his former coach and started to learn how to use a computer. "Kevin had been using a computer for a couple of years to help him prepare, and he recommended that I start learning the programs he used," Eisler said.

"Derek showed a real talent with the computer," Constantine said. "He really impressed me with a natural ability to work with documents and reports. Chuck Grillo (Sharks Executive Vice President and Director of Player Personnel) and I began to see that this guy was becoming more and more valuable."

That summer, Kevin was named head coach of the San Jose Sharks. "When Kevin left for San Jose, [Sharks scout] Pat Funk and I took over the United States Development League at the camp," Eisler said. "We oversaw the whole training and camp experience for several hundred kids during the summer.

Constantine and Eisler then began to discuss a possible role for Eisler with San Jose's new coaching staff.

"I came back here in an apprentice-type role," Eisler said. "I had experience with Kevin's use of the computer and video, and how he liked to structure practices and scouting sessions. He told me I'd learn the ins-and-outs of hockey."

Additionally, Eisler would have the chance to further his education by enrolling in classes at San Jose State.

"Derek's major contribution to our coaching staff right now is primarily compiling statistics and producing computerized reports," Constantine said. "However, his work in all areas of coaching and preparation has been, and will continue to be, invaluable. He assists us with video break-downs [individual player and team assessment], works with players on the ice to develop specific skills, helps to rehabilitate players who need extra attention and fills into any other roles as he has time around his studies."

Eisler works daily with the entire Sharks coaching staff to prepare reports and materials for upcoming opponents. He charts all face-offs, hits, turnovers, blocked shots and offsides during the game. He then enters this information into a database program and compiles sheets on every player's performance. These sheets give player a better understanding of how he can improve for the next game.

Eisler believes his efforts are beneficial not only to the Sharks coaching staff but also to his own career aspirations. "I am working under people here who have taught me a professional attitude and how to act professionally in my job. The hockey will always be there, but seeing the professionalism with which the people in this organization operate has been a great benefit to me."

Also from the Sharks web site: http://www.sjsharks.COM

Oakland native Derek Eisler returns for his third season with the Sharks. His primary responsibilities are assisting the coaching staff with on-ice instruction, the preparation, supervision and maintainance of all coaches statistics and general administrative duties. He also works closely with assistant coach Steve Millard in administering the club's fitness and conditioning programs.

Eisler, 29, served from 1991-95 as on-ice instructor at Minnesota Hockey Camps and as assistant director of the United States Developmental League, both based in Brainerd, Minn. In addition, he was assistant coach at St. Cloud State University (Minn.) in 1992-93.

Eisler played youth hockey in Berkeley, then later was a member of the Squaw Valley Mountaineers junior team, coached by Constantine. He also played for the Sharks coach in 1985 at North Iowa of the United States Hockey League.

His first coaching assignment came as an assistant at Rochester (USHL) in 1988-89. Following that season, Eisler coached NORCAL's Stockton Colts until 1991.