Greg Paulus

Greg Paulus (born July 3, 1986)

Current position: Head men’s basketball coach
Current team: Niagara Purple Eagles
Current conference: Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC)
Niagara record: 67-78 (.462)
Overall record: 67-78 (.462)

Career Accomplishments:

Awards:

Coaching Career (head coach, unless noted):

2019-present Niagara
2018-2019 George Washington (asst)
2017-2018 Louisville (asst)
2013-2017 Ohio State (asst)
2011-2013 Ohio State (video)
2010-2011 Navy (asst)

Greg Paulus Facts

  • Gregory Russell Paulus
  • Born July 3, 1986
  • Hometown: Manlius, New York
  • Alma Mater: Duke University (BS, 2009) / Syracuse University (MA, 2010)
  • Born in Ohio, Paulus lived in Wisconsin early on before moving to Manlius, NY outside of Syracuse
    • Attended Christian Brothers Academy (NY), where he starred in both football and basketball
    • Named Gatorade HS Basketball Player of the Year in 2005 and was a McDonald’s All-American
    • Offered Division I scholarships for each sport, but ultimately chose to play basketball at Duke
  • Spent four years playing PG for the Blue Devils under legendary head coach Mike Krzyzewski
    • Appeared in the NCAA Tournament all four seasons, advancing twice to the Sweet Sixteen
    • Named All-ACC Third Team in 2008 and was a two-time Academic All-American
  • After his senior year at Duke, Paulus explored football; ultimately became a grad student at Syracuse and served as the Orange’s starting QB for one season, passing for 2,025 yards and 13 touchdowns in route to a 4-8 record
  • Began his basketball coaching career in 2010, spending that season as an assistant under Billy Lange at Navy
  • Hired by Thad Matta in 2011 to be video coordinator at Ohio State; elevated to assistant coach in 2013
    • Was a part of four NCAA Tournaments, including the Buckeyes’ run to the 2012 Final Four
  • Spent one season each as an assistant at Louisville (under David Padgett) and George Washington (under Maurice Joseph)
  • After a coaching change at GW, Paulus was hired in April 2019 to join Patrick Beilein‘s first staff at Niagara
    • Named interim head coach in October 2019 following Beilein’s abrupt resignation, then signed a deal on November 7th, the day before the Purple Eagles’ first game, to remove the “interim” tag
    • While the Purple Eagles were 12-20, Paulus was given the Joe B. Hall Award as the nation’s top first-year head coach
    • Niagara gave Paulus a contract extension in October 2020, then another in December 2022 (through the 2026-27 season)

Greg Paulus Coaching Tree

  • Bryan Smothers (Wayne State)