WSC Men's Basketball
Head Coach

Paul Combs
Head Coach

Paul Combs enters his third season as the head men's basketball coach at Wayne State College after being named the 25th coach in the program's 96-year history on April 30, 2009.  Coach Combs comes into the 2011-12 season with an overall record of 191-129 in his 12 years as a head coach.  In his two seasons with the Wildcats, Combs has posted a 27-29 overall mark going 19-23 in the NSIC.  Under Combs, the program has qualified for the NSIC/Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament in both seasons.

Combs, who stresses academics, accountability, open and honest communication and team play, helped the Wildcats establish a new school record for field goal percentage in 2009-10 (49.5%) and led the NSIC in several defensive categories including scoring defense (63.9 ppg), three-point field goal percentage defense (.331), rebounding defense (26.2) and rebounding margin (+6.3).  Nationally, WSC ranked 13th in fewest fouls per game (15.1), 15th in field goal percentage and 18th in rebounding margin during the 2009-10 season.

The 2009-10 Wildcats, picked to finish 12th in the preseason NSIC coaches poll, finished 13-14 overall and 10-10 in league play, tied for sixth place.  Coach Combs led the Wildcats to a tremendous 75-52 win at #15 Augustana in the first round of the NSIC Sanford Health Men's Basketball Tournament before falling to top-seed St. Cloud State in the semi-finals 74-66.

In Combs' second season (2010-11), the Wildcats were 13-14 overall and 9-13 in league play (eighth place).  WSC opened the season 4-0 for the first time since 1976-77 and played in five overtime games during the season.

Prior to Wayne State, Combs served six seasons as head coach at the University of Wisconsin-Platteville.  He guided the Pioneers to a 104-55 record, including a 23-6 mark during the 2008-09 season and a D3hoops.com #1 national ranking.  In the 2008-09 season, the Pioneers reached its first NCAA Division III national tournament since the 1998-99 Pioneer National Championship team led by current University of Wisconsin coach Bo Ryan.

While at UW-Platteville, Combs faced off against numerous NCAA Division I teams including Wisconsin, Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Purdue and Bradley.  During the 2008-09 season, Coach Combs' Pioneer team handed Bradley University an 84-79 loss in Peoria, Illinois.

Combs' head coaching career started at Lakeland College, an NCAA Division III school located in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  Lakeland, who prior to Combs' arrival had won just 20 games in three seasons, went on to win 60 games in four seasons, win back-to-back conference championships and compiled a 23-1 home record in four years of regular season conference games under Combs.

Prior to serving as the head coach at Lakeland College, Combs served as an assistant coach at Ripon College, helping his alma mater to a 102-21 record with four NCAA Division III tournament appearances in his five years.  Combs earned his bachelor degree in business management from Ripon in 1993 where he was a point guard and captain of a team that was nationally-ranked in 1992-93.  He recently completed his master's degree in educational leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh.

Paul and his wife Michelle have two sons, Caden (7) and Carter (5) and one daughter Lucy (1) and are proud to be a part of the Wildcat family.

Combs' Head Coaching Resume

• Wayne State College (2009-current)  27-29
• University of Wisconsin-Platteville (2003-09)  104-55
• Lakeland College (1999-2003)  60-45
• Overall Record  191-129