A true coaching fanatic, Paul presently coaches both Capilano College and RC Palmer Secondary.  A high school coach since the age of 16, Eberhardt has taken nine teams from three different schools (Magee, McNair, and Palmer) to the BC AAA Championships.  Paul has coached four Basketball BC U17 teams and led the teams to three gold medals and one silver during these years. For the past two summers Ebe coached Basketball BC’s inaugural BC U17 Red team. As well he was a member of the National Team coaching staff from 2000 to 2004. For the past eight years he has also coached at Cap and led the Blues to a provincial BCCCA Championship in 2003. Paul is one of the most colourful and enthusiastic coaches in BC.

Coaches Clipboard:  Could you outline a typical “Paul Eberhardt Day” during the basketball season.

Eberhardt: My day usually starts at around 7:00 am, but I don’t often get up until about 7:30 am (I love pressing the snooze button). Then it is off to Palmer for an 8:20am start where I teach Physical Education and Social Studies 10 and 11. I am also the Athletic Director at Palmer, so my school day is very hectic. I practice with my Cap squad Monday and Wednesday from 6 to 8 pm and Tuesday and Thursday from 3:30 to 5:30 pm, and the Palmer team Monday and Wednesday 3 to 5 pm and Tuesday and Thursday 7:30 to 9:30. Most Friday and Saturdays we have College games, and if not, then I am in a high school tournament and we play our high school league games on Tuesday and Thursday.

I have to be very organized in my schedule and needless to say I spend a great deal of time in my car; but I have a great collection of Springsteen CD’s so I don’t mind all of the driving. When I get home I try to catch up on all my e-mails and hopefully relax and watch some TV (South Park, Seinfeld, Poker, and any food show with Chef Gordon Ramsey – you gotta love the way he runs a kitchen!!

Coaches Clipboard:  You started coaching at the age of 16.  How and where did this start? 

Eberhardt: My entire family was total basketball nuts. My Dad and brother were both star players (my Dad played on the BC Champion Magee Black Shirts in 1961). I also loved hoops but wasn’t quite as athletic as they were. The truth was I was short and slow and had a bad handle but I could really shoot the ball. In my senior year, we had a pretty bad team and so it looked good for me to get plenty of playing time but I broke my foot right at the start of the season and was out for the year. I was pretty depressed about it but the school Vice Principal asked me to help him coach the grade eight team and the rest is history. I totally fell in love with coaching and teaching and I knew that was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. You know what they say, “when one door closes another one opens.”

Coaches Clipboard:  What do you find are the biggest differences between coaching College and coaching High School?

Eberhardt: To be perfectly honest the differences are not that great. Coaching is coaching be it 13 year olds or 20 year olds. Obviously they are at different stages intellectually and in their maturation but it doesn’t  matter what level you are at you still need to be able to pass, shoot, dribble, and defend (I bet everyone thought I wasn’t going to mention defense!) You still must emphasize the basic fundamentals every day and while at College you will have a higher level of athleticism sometimes the fundamentals are weak because that player has been able to get away with only using their athleticism up to that point. The two major problems that players have when they move up to a higher level is dealing with a much more physical game and a much quicker pace in the game.

I guess the major difference if you want to be successful is you better be able to recruit (I am talking about the College level here, recruiting at the high school level is flat out wrong but it is another discussion for another time). Sometimes at the high school level you will be able to have more of an influence in the outcome of some games because you are not dealing with the same level of athleticism but at the College level you very much need to have the horses.

Coaches Clipboard:  You obviously enjoy coaching at the high school and collegiate level.  What specifically do you enjoy at each level?

Eberhardt:  At the high school level I very much enjoy the opportunity to work with young people and watch them develop over a period of years. It is great thrill to know that you have played a part in helping someone as they move through their high school life and hopefully on to something after they have played for you. 
At the College level it is actually very similar as Capilano College is mostly a two year school and we do our best to help players get to the next level. Over the years we have moved more players on to CIS schools than any other school in our league and I very much enjoy keeping in touch and following their progress. 
At BOTH levels I simply love competition. I can hardly wait to prepare my teams at practice and then go and compete with other teams. 
Without question the best part is all of the life long friends you make in this line of work. Be it players, parents, colleagues, and even a few referees, I love going out after a game and hanging out and telling stories over a nice meal and a few beverages.

Coaches Clipboard:  Your teams play an up-tempo pressure system.  Why did you develop this philosophy of play?

Eberhardt: I figured out pretty early that if you want your players to work hard for you then they better enjoy what they are doing. I believe that most players love to play fast break basketball as everyone has to develop their skills and everyone gets a chance to score and handle the ball. Sometimes as a coach it is tough because to play up-tempo you have to be willing to give up a certain amount of control but in the long run I think it is a great way to play the game.

Coaches Clipboard:   This is the first season of FIBA rules for high schools in British Columbia. You have experience with these rules from both the CCAA level and provincial team.  Do you feel it would be a mistake or a positive move for high schools to make the final jump and adopt the 24 second shot and 8 second back-court time rule?

Eberhardt: I had some serious reservations about high school moving to these rules but most of them were about the terrible process that Canada Basketball used to accomplish it. As far as a philosophy about how to play the game I think that FIBA rules have many advantages over NCAA rules. I would like to see high school adopt the 24 second clock and the 8 second back court for the Sr. level only but still allow the Grade 8, 9, and 10 leagues to play with a 30 second clock. Many would argue that the most significant change in the FIBA game involves the reduced shot clock so it probably makes sense to bring this in to the high school game.

Coaches Clipboard:  Most coaches have mentors as they move through their coaching years.  Who were some of the people who influenced you and what did you learn from them?

Eberhardt: There are probably way too many to mention as I tend to be like a sponge and try to soak up as much as I can from everybody. However, the late Jack Kenyon from Mount Royal College had a great influence on me. My brother had the privilege of playing for him, and I learned a great deal from him, especially how to get your team to play for each other, and how to get them to accept and understand their roles.

In BC, Richie Chambers, Rich Goulet, and Ken Dockendorf have influenced me greatly. Any time I have questions or I want to talk hoops or I just need to vent I always give them a call. Also, Gord Thatcher who coaches at Camosun is a great technical coach and I love talking hoops with him. When I got to work with the National team, Jay Triano taught me a great deal, especially about how to trust your players and allow them more responsibility. I have also always admired and learned a great deal from Don Nelson, Pat Riley, Paul Westhead, Bobby Knight, and John Wooden.

Coaches Clipboard:  One of the greatest compliments a coach can receive is that his players enjoy playing for him; this certainly applies in your case.  Why do think your players enjoy playing for you?

Eberhardt: Sometimes I can be pretty hard on guys and I can be highly critical but as long as your players know that you truly care about them as people then they will almost always enjoy playing for you. It can not be about your ego as a coach as players will recognize this and probably not want to play for you. I have also discovered that you have to be true to yourself and be demanding on the things you believe in. Players might not always agree with you but they will respect you if you are genuine. Lastly, I find that a good sense of humor and an ability to make fun of yourself goes a long way. Thankfully when it comes to making fun of myself I have plenty of material to work with.

Coaches Clipboard:  You are a coaching “lifer”. Mark Simpson, the outstanding coach at Dover Bay Secondary, said in one of these interviews the thing he enjoys about coaching is that you can become better with age.  How do you continue to learn and improve?

Eberhardt: It may sound like a cliché but the minute you think you know it all it is time to get out! My first year coaching a group of grade 8’s as a 16 year old we won the Vancouver City Championship and I thought I knew everything. Now as I look back I know that I had very little clue as to what I was doing. I honestly hope I can look back when I am 60 and say that I didn’t know much when I was 43 because if you stop learning then you stop living.