Lucas McAdams

With over a decades' experience as a coach in various forums, Lucas's success derives from his patient demeanor, his flexible personality, and his passion for helping others improve their lives. As an executive leader at ESM and one of its most experienced College Coaches, Lucas has developed a program for helping students navigate high school and prepare for college that reaches students of all levels, whether they have their sights set on the Ivy League or they have yet to see themselves as college-bound.

After graduating as a three-sport athlete at Grant High School in Portland, Oregon, Lucas enrolled at the University of Oregon and studied political science, computer science, and business administration. It was at the UO where he first grew passionate about working with youth, primarily as a basketball coach for local teams. After receiving his degree in 2011, he worked at a middle school as an At-Risk Advocate, connecting individually with students in order to keep them in the classroom and away from drugs, alcohol, and violence. That experience led him to the 1-on-1 work with students at ESM, where he's been a leader on the team since first joining its ranks in 2012. He soon moved down to the San Francisco Bay Area and became a staple of the college counseling industry throughout the east bay.

Over the past 8 years at ESM, Lucas has worked with over 200 individual students, guiding them through all aspects of the college preparation and application process: developing academic passions, choosing high school courses and extracurricular activities, developing leadership opportunities, navigating the SAT/ACT/AP/Subject Test process, exploring opportunities as a recruited college athlete, and, of course, developing a college list, writing essays, and submitting highly competitive college applications. Supported by the academic prowess of the other mentors at ESM, he is truly a one-stop shop for families looking to elevate their kids throughout high school and beyond.