"He has a very cool head about himself."

 

Head Boys Basketball Coach Zachry Pauls at age 17.

By Jacquie Mattson, Editor in Chief

HRV started the year with quite a few new members in the coaching staff. One happened to be head Boys Basketball Coach. Zachry Pauls.At age 30, Pauls is the youngest head coach at HRV, and has been coaching for nine years.
Before Hood River Pauls coached at Loll High School, Oakridge, and, most recently, Pauls coached Basketball at Sandy High School.
Although Pauls has had many coaching jobs at High Schools this is his first time actually working in one. In previous years he has been an instructoinal assistant in Emementary schools. “ I really enjoy working in a classroom one on one with students,” he said. “it’s a really rewarding experience.” An instructional assistant does exactly what the name entails, they give extra one on one attention to students and assist teachers in the daily classroom.
Pauls didn’t start out wanting to be an instructional assistant, or being a coach. In college Pauls worked to get a degree in sports medicine. After interning with the Portland Trail Blazers Pauls decided that that was not the career for him.
“Coach Pauls has the kids playing his style of basketball and that kids are responding well,” said athletic director Brent Walsh. This is the first year at HRV for Walsh and Pauls.
“ Coach came into a tough position as our head coach but he has done a good job,” said Senior, Seth Amaral. Coaching at HRV has been a rewarding experience so far for Pauls, “We are trying to learn and establish a new system. They are working hard at it.”
“Coach has shown that he really cares about the future of Hood River basketball, and he really wants to enhance our program,” said Amaral.Pauls has every intention of staying in Hood River and to continue coaching.
Pauls is not the first person in his family to pursue teaching and coaching. Pauls father was the Athletic Director at Oak Ridge High School, and the head Basketball coach for 18 years. “My dad’s my best friend,” said Pauls who learned alot from his father.

Head girls basketball Coach Phil Hukari admires details about Pauls’ coaching style. “He has a lot of self control, he shows alot of passion for the sport and seems to care alot for his players.”Assistant girls coach Tom Ames agrees with Hukari, "He has a very cool head about himself."Pauls has received a very warm welcome from the Hood River Athletics department and has every intention staying.

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