Paul Woolpert

Paul Woolpert is an American basketball coach and scout. He was the head coach of the Yakima Sun Kings in the Continental Basketball Association (CBA) for seven non-consecutive years (1998–2001, 2004–2008). He was named CBA Coach of the Year in 2007 and 2008. He led the Sun Kings to four CBA Championships (1995, 2000, 2006, 2007). A new Yakima Sun Kings team was founded in 2017 and Woolpert was hired as head coach. The team won the North American Premier Basketball (NAPB) Championship in 2018. He was fired during the 2019 NAPB Championship Series.

Paul Woolpert
Woolpert in April 2019
Personal information
NationalityAmerican
Career information
CollegePeninsula College
University of Portland
Coaching career1994–present
Career history
As coach:
1994–1995Yakima Sun Kings (asst.)
1995–1996Sioux Falls Skyforce (asst.)
1996–1998Yakima Sun Kings (asst.)
1998–2001Yakima Sun Kings
2001–2002Sioux Falls Skyforce
2003Talk 'N Text Phone Pals
2004–2008Yakima Sun Kings
2008–2009Tulsa 66ers
2011–2013Townsville Crocodiles
2014–2015Perth Wildcats (asst.)
2015–2017Los Angeles D-Fenders (asst.)
2018–2019Yakima SunKings
2019Perth Wildcats (asst.)
Career highlights and awards
  • NAPB champion (2018)
  • 4× CBA champion (1995, 2000, 2006, 2007)
  • 2× CBA Coach of the Year (2007, 2008)

Woolpert was also head coach of the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the CBA (2001–02), the Talk 'N Text Phone Pals of the Philippine Basketball Association (2003), the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League (2008–09) and the Townsville Crocodiles of the National Basketball League (2011–13).

Coaching career

Woolpert went to Peninsula College in Port Angeles, Washington and later transferred to the University of Portland, where he was a student assistant coach for the men's basketball team.[1][2]

Woolpert got his start as a scout and video coordinator for the Seattle SuperSonics in 1986, remaining in the role until 1994.[1] From 1995 to 2004, Woolpert served as a scout for the Portland Trail Blazers. Woolpert also coached in other capacities while maintaining those responsibilities, spending time as an assistant coach with the Sioux Falls Skyforce and the Yakima Sun Kings. Woolpert was promoted to head coach of the Sun Kings prior to the 1998 season, winning his first CBA Championship in 2000. Yakima enjoyed continued success with Woolpert at the helm, winning the CBA Championship in 2006 and 2007, while setting a CBA record for winning percentage, finishing the 2007–08 season with a 43–5 record (.895).

After serving as head coach of the Tulsa 66ers in 2008–09, Woolpert moved to Australia where he spent two seasons as the head coach of the Townsville Crocodiles.[3]

In 2014–15, Woolpert served as the Perth Wildcats' lead assistant coach.[4]

In August 2015, Woolpert was named an assistant coach for the Los Angeles D-fenders of the NBA Development League.[5][6]

In October 2017, Woolpert rejoined the rebooted Yakima SunKings as its head coach and general manager ahead of the 2018 NAPB season.[7] The SunKings went on to win NAPB championship in 2018.[8] In 2019, Woolpert led the SunKings to the championships series, where he was released mid series by the owner following a Facebook post made by Woolpert asking for funds to bring his entire roster to the final championship game.[9]

In July 2019, Woolpert was reappointed as lead assistant of the Perth Wildcats.[10] However, he parted ways with the Wildcats on October 23, 2019, to return to the United States for family reasons.[11]

References
  1. "Late Father's Example Inspires Yakima Coach". Seattle, Washington. Associated Press. 27 December 1994. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  2. "Red Devils 94, Pirates 75". Longview Daily News. Longview, Washington. 12 January 1981. p. 26. Retrieved 8 November 2020.
  3. Townsville Crocodiles sack coach Paul Woolpert
  4. Former Townsville coach Paul Woolpert relishing interim head coach role at Perth Wildcats
  5. "Los Angeles D-FendersD-Fenders Announce Coaching Staff - Los Angeles D-Fenders". Losangeles.dleague.nba.com. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  6. Underwood, Roger (2007-03-30). "Woolpert joins Lakers' D-League staff | Professional Sports". yakimaherald.com. Retrieved 2015-08-28.
  7. Sawyer, Andy (2017-10-17). "Back to the future: Rebooted Sun Kings bring in Woolpert as coach, GM ; Professional Sports". yakimaherald.com. Retrieved 2017-10-25.
  8. SunKings cap comeback season with NAPB championship
  9. SunKings fire coach Paul Woolpert in middle of championship series
  10. "2019/20 Coaching Staff Finalised". Wildcats.com.au. July 30, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2019.
  11. "Paul Woolpert departs Wildcats". Wildcats.com.au. October 23, 2019. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
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