Thursday, September 6, 1990
Sports
Zimmerman takes
position at Gannon
Ends seven year stint at Behrend
by Susan Cepicka
Collegain Staff Writer
Behrend suffered a
coaching loss over the
course of this past summer.
Doug Zimmerman has
given up coaching the
basketball Lions in favor of
the Lady Knights of Gannon
University.
The announcement was
made at a press conference
on July 25,1990 by Gannon
President Dr. M. Daniel
Henry.
Along with being head
coach of the women's
basketball program,
Zimmerman will also coach
tennis and teach in Gannon's
College of Educadoa
The number one reason
for the move was that
Zimmerman would be
directly involved in
Gannon's athletic
administration.
He is die new assistant
athletic director, and has an
opportunity for
advancement
As an Erie native, he did
not want to {Mill his two
daughters out of school in
this area. Moving downtown
to Gannon did not require
any type of relocation for
him and his family.
All of these aspects, plus
a salary increase and more
exposure at a bigger
haabnihall school caused him
to take advantage of the
opportunity.
Zimmerman had been
head coach of the men’s
basketball program since
1983.
He finishes Ms Behrend
career as the third all-time
wfcmingcst coach.
He accomplished this
dettlße having to play almost
half of the games against
NCAA Division II
Opponents and over 60
of ' dm
tournament to kick off the
season.
Due to the poor facilities,
it is difficult to get other
schools to play here. It is
hoped that the renovations to
Erie Hall will alleviate this
problem.
Behrend was
"frustrating," stated
Zimmerman.
The continual promise of
a new gym and forgotten
pledges of assistants to help
with the recruitment and
development of new talent
became more and more
difficult to deal with.
At Gannon, facilities and
staff are not a problem.
Gannon also has a
scholarship program that
helps tremendously in
recruitment
These perks are all part of
the reason that Zimmerman
has left Behrend.
When asked about
coaching women's instead of
men's basketball,
Zimmerman replied, "When
it comes down to it, you're
still working with kids,
you're still teaching."
Women do not have the
same physical attributes as
men do, but "the strategy is
still the same" explained the
coach.
He is looking forward to
a successful season at
Gannon and a prosperous
future in Erie.
While there were mmy
phunes hi leaving, It was
stiU difficult for Zimmerman
to leave.
When the decision wad
made, he wanted the
opportunity to tell Us ptofere
himself. Because of a press
leak, this was difficult and
Zimmerman had to act
quickly.
lie sent letters to Ms
team, and sat down and
discussed die changes widi
the the seniors.
sood ftainss v
The one that Mood
most was simply,
lllpp*
’ *.* : •■iijnuiiiiart*
Paulsen takes over
Successful coach
by Tony Viola
Collegian Staff Writer
Frederick Paulsen will be the
new head coach of the Behrend
basketball team for the 1990-
1991 season.
Paulsen has been coaching at
the collegiate level for fifteen
years, ten years as a head coach.
Paulsen's record as a head coach
is 155-104, a sixty percent
winning rate.
Paulsen's last coaching job
was at Huron University in
South Dakota, where he was a
head coach for six years.
Paulsen's team won four
conference championships and
two district championships,
including a 13-4 playoff record.
Paulsen has also won some
prestigious awards. Paulsen was
named South Dakota Sports
Writers "Coach of the Year" in
1989. Paulsen was also District
12 "Coach of the Year" in 1986
and 1988.
Paulsen also coached Anoka-
Ramsey Community College in
Minnesota. In two years,
Paulsen's record was 27-15.
Paulsen was named Central
Conference "Coach of the Year"
in 1984, when his team had a
record of 21-2 including a sixteen
game winning streak.
Paulsen was an assistant
coach for Michigan State
University in 1978-1980. This
is when the Spartans won the
national championship in 1979
behind Earvin "Magic" Johnson.
For the Lions this season
Players discuss coaching change
by Susan Cepicka
Collegian Staff Writer
The change from Zimmerman
to Paulsen will hopefully bring
changes to Behrend that will
deliver a prosperous season.
The magic of motivation and
enthusiasm is evident in the
players this season.
When asked about the
change, senior Randy Baughman
said, "At first, we were concerned
about Zimmerman leaving, due
to how late it was in the year,
but we are not disappointed at all
in the outcome."
Baughman is the starting
point guild for the Lions and he
is in his last year of eligibility.
An Erie native, Baughman
decided to stay in this area due to
Zimmerman's promise of first
year playing time.
Play he did, and for three long
seasons, he performed extremely
well for Zimmerman.
When Zimmerman decided to
leave, Baughman and some of his
teammates were concerned about
who would replace him. They
contacted Athletic Director Herb
Lauffer and expressed their
concern.
In answer, Lauffer allowed
seniors Baughman, Chris
Viscuso, and Rick Demski to
hold the final interviews and
express their inputs on the
The Collegian
to lead men's basketball team
New coach: Fred Paulsen, the new
men’s basketball coach, prepares for the
upcoming season
Coach Paulsen said, "My
philosophy won't change. My
team will be extremely prepared
and competitive."
Paulsen hasn't hired an
assistant coach yet. Last year's
assistant, Jim Hamilton, is being
considered for the position.
Since Behrend had a
disappointing season last year.
Coach Paulsen feels that, "The
fear of failure is a very big
motivator and will help this
season.”
choices of applicants. Their
choice was unanimousely Fred
Paulsen.
"We have to grasp his
program," said Junior transfer
from Gannon Gregg Blair.
Blair was recruited by
"At first , we were
concerned about
Zimmerman leaving,
but we are not
disappointed at all
in the outcome"
-Randy Baughman
Senior Point Guard
Zimmerman when he graduated
from Youngstown High School
in 1984. He had already enlisted
in the Navy and was unable to
attend college.
When his four year enlistment
ended, Blair came home to
Pennsylvania to go back to
school and chose Gannon because
he was given a scholarship.
Learning that Zimmerman had
left does not concern him because
he has been forced to deal with
new coaching and staff changes
Page 13
Paulsen wants to get more
organized and settled in before he
starts the season. Paulsen's wife,
Marilyn Ann, and his three sons
are still living in Michigan.
Paulsen is very busy trying to
get settled in on campus and
trying to find a home in Erie.
As if Coach Paulsen wasn't
busy enough getting organized,
he is also teaching three sections
of golf and two sections of
health.
throughout his 14 years on the
court
Blair, a 6'9" forward who
claims to have been the smallest
boy in his class until the seventh
grade, should make a big impact
on the team this year.
On the coaching change, he
does not see it as a one way
street, "He has to learn us," says
Blair.
At Gannon, Blair saw a
different type of athletic program
in which it was basketball first
and classes second.
At Behrend, he claims to not
have that type of pressure on him
anymore. "I am known as a
college student here, not as a
basketball player," remarks Blair.
"I just want to play here."
For freshmen center forward
Kevin Mock, the new season will
bring new challenges with a new
coach, and new possibilities of
getting off the bench and getting
playtime.
Mock is a six-foot-seven
Pennsylvania native. He has six
years of experience and played
varsity ball for Oxford High
School near Philadelphia.
As far as a new coach. Mock
is undecided but will play for any
coach that Penn State trill throw
at him.
"I am looking forward to it,
it's a new experience playing in
college."