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Dave Paulsen  

Dave Paulsen, a two-time National Coach of the Year who led Williams College to the 2003 Division

Dave Paulsen, a two-time National Coach of the Year who led Williams College to the 2003 Division III national championship, was named the head men's basketball coach at Bucknell on May 20, 2008, and recently completed his third season at Bucknell, highlighted by a conference championship and a trip to the NCAA Tournament.

Paulsen, a 1987 Williams graduate and a Phi Beta Kappa scholar, has coached at every level of college basketball over the last two decades, has won nearly 64 percent of his games as a head coach, and is considered a highly sought-after consultant on the principles of the motion offense.

Paulsen, came to Bucknell as its 20th head basketball coach after leading Williams to the top of the Division III ranks. In eight years at Williams, he guided the Ephs to a 170-53 (.762) record, including a combined 61-3 mark in 2002-03 and 2003-04. His team captured the 2003 national championship and was the national runner-up in 2004. The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) Coach of the Year in both 2003 and 2004, Paulsen's teams won three NESCAC championships (2003, 2004, 2007) and made four NCAA Tournament appearances (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007). He was a three-time NESCAC Coach of the Year and two-time New England Coach of the Year.

Prior to his tenure at Williams, Paulsen served as head coach at Le Moyne from 1997-2000 and at St. Lawrence from 1994-97. He compiled a three-year record of 42-39 at Le Moyne, while also serving as the school's director of NCAA compliance. At St. Lawrence, he posted a 50-28 record in three seasons, including the 1995-96 and 1996-97 campaigns in which the Saints made back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances, and he was twice named the Upstate Collegiate Athletic Association Coach of the Year. In 16 years as a head coach at Bucknell, Williams, Le Moyne and St. Lawrence, Paulsen has produced a record of 283-160 (.639).

In 1989-90, Paulsen served as the graduate assistant coach on Steve Fisher's staff at Michigan while completing his master's degree in history. Paulsen was part of a Wolverines program that went 23-8 and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, and he had the opportunity to coach six players who would later become NBA draft picks.

From 1990-94, Paulsen was the senior assistant coach and recruiting coordinator at Cleveland State, helping the Vikings to a 64-50 record in four seasons, including a 22-6 record (15-1 Mid-Continent Conference) in 1992-93.

Paulsen graduated from Williams cum laude with departmental honors in history. He was also a member of the Ephs' varsity basketball team. In 1987, his squad captured the ECAC New England Division III championship.

Upon his return to Williams as head coach, Paulsen also served as an assistant professor of physical education, which is fitting since he is widely regarded as one of college basketball's most accomplished teachers.

Known as an offensive innovator, Paulsen has produced four acclaimed instructional videos, entitled "Ten Offensive Principles for the Adaptable Motion Offense," "Motion Offense for Beginners," "Developing Explosive Perimeter Players," and "Principles of Effective Post Play."

Paulsen has been a featured clinician at more than 50 developmental camps and coaches conventions throughout the nation, including the prestigious Nike Championship Basketball Clinics. He was even asked to participate in a pair of clinics in Portugal.

Paulsen has been chosen to serve on the NCAA Division I Regional Advisory Committee, where he will provide input on the selection of the NCAA Tournament field. Paulsen and his wife, Kathy, have three daughters: Claire, Sara and Molly.

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