Paulson hopes for quick search

Losing any coach, particularly a good one late in the summer, presents a unique set of challenges for an athletic director.

That’s the task facing Jamestown College’s Lawrie Paulson after Matt Murken was hired by Minot State on Wednesday to become its new men’s basketball coach. Still, Paulson is confident the school will find a quality replacement. Just hours after the job became available, Paulson was already fielding inquiries.

Paulson is optimistic that the position will be filled quickly and with a strong candidate. Part of being an AD means having a short list tucked away somewhere if the need arises, regardless of the sport, and Paulson certainly has that.

“We’re very confident we’ll find a good coach and we’re moving full steam ahead as quickly as we can to find the right guy,” Paulson said.

Murken was in Jamestown for just two years, but it was a good run. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa native produced a 46-16 record with the Jimmies.

“The day I shook hands with Matt congratulating him on being hired here I knew there’d be a day I’d be shaking his hand thanking him for what he had done for us,” Paulson said. “He did a very good job, which we knew he would do. As a result opportunities present themselves.

“The unfortunate thing is the timing of it, but that’s just part of the deal and we’ll move forward.”

Getting it right trumps rapidly filling the opening, but variables such as school starting soon and keeping the team intact are built-in pressures to expedite the process.

“We have a lot to offer. We know good coaches want to coach here,” Paulson said. “It’s all about the right fit and I’m very confident we will find the right person.”

Sun sports editor Dave Selvig can be reached at (701) 952-8460 or by e-mail at dselvig@jamestownsun.com

Tags: college sports, sports, jimmies, basketball