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Schulman Has Big Plans For Gulf Boys

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By BART O'CONNELL

Tribune correspondent

Published: August 27, 2008

NEW PORT RICHEY - Paul Schulman wasn't too nervous as he waited for more than a month to find out if he would be selected to replace the departed Steve Feldman as Gulf's boys basketball coach.

The nerves come in when his thinks about how big a task it will be to turn the Bucs' program into a consistent winner.

Schulman, a 38-year-old Army recruiter who has served since graduating from Gulf in 1988, learned Monday evening that he got the job. After that, the focus turned to implementing his short- and long-term plans for success.

"I have to build a foundation," Schulman said. "From every angle I look, I have to build this program up."

Schulman was the only person formally interviewed by Gulf's six-person search committee, which included principal Steve Knobl, assistant principal Thomas Brochu, athletic director Paul Girardi, wrestling coach Travis DeWalt and player and parent representatives.

Knobl said about 15 people inquired about the job, but all were looking for a faculty position and would have had to relocate. Schulman is not on the faculty.

"I liked Paul's energy, and his outside-the-box thinking," Knobl said. "He came to us with plans to really build the excitement on campus for the students.

"I want player participation No. 1, and with change comes excitement. I'd like to see more students attend games. I also believe Paul will instill disciplined play and the players will practice hard. ... I'm not as worried about wins and losses in the first year."

Schulman's goal is to make the boys team as successful as the girls, which he assisted under Mike Quarto the past four years, watching one of his daughters, Jordan, score more than 1,000 points in her prep career. He also was a boys assistant under Feldman from 2000-05, working with both teams for one season.

In order to reach the goals, he plans to make several changes, not just on the court. He addressed the need for basketball to interact with the school's other sports teams, primarily football, to encourage athletes to play multiple sports. He also wants to familiarize nearby middle school players with the program by inviting them to attend more games and play in their gym.

He even talked about changing the little things about the program, from making pre-game player introductions more exciting to changing players' habits on the bus ride home from road games. He also spoke with Knobl about having boys and girls basketball doubleheaders after the JV season ends.

On the court, one thing seems certain: Schulman's coaching style will be a contrast from that of his predecessor, who led Gulf for 13 seasons and had a reputation for getting the most out of traditionally small groups of players.

"I think they're two entirely different personalities," Girardi said. "They're not at all alike."

"I believe in running harder, college-type practices, not staying in one drill too long, not sitting around, a very systematic approach," Schulman said. "I want the people walking to their cars to hear us in the gym talking on defense. We'll be getting back to the fundamentals."

He hopes his on-court philosophies, which stem from experiences being deployed in Operation Desert Storm, followed by stints playing basketball in the Army and for its post teams throughout the 1990s, will translate into a more exciting style on the court. The Bucs expect only four players (one senior) to return from last year's squad.

The first official team meeting, open to any current or prospective player, is Friday in the Gulf cafeteria immediately after school. A parent meeting is scheduled for a week later, and open gym will commence soon after that.

"Parents will want their kids to come play in this program," he said. "It will be a little harder, but the game's still going to be fun. It will be a good challenge, but hopefully we'll be more athletic and a little bit better than we're expected to be."

Correspondent Bart O'Connell can be reached at tampasport@gmail.com.

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