Philosophy and Staff

Coach Matt Paul’s Goals are quite clear – “I want to help as many kids as I can achieve their dreams.” Basketball has always been the center of Matt Paul’s life and through it he actualized many of his personal goals and dreams.

As a young child he recalls telling his father that one day he was going to play professional basketball. Even when it appeared that maybe this wasn’t meant to be after he did not play Division I basketball at the University of Pennsylvania, Matt remained steadfast in his determination to meet his goals.

In 1999, he did just that when he was signed to play professional basketball in Germany with the Basketball Club of Darmstadt (BCD). His journey to achieving this dream was anything but easy. It involved many road blocks, but each was overcome through hard work, persistence and a positive attitude. Above all, it was the burning desire to prove to himself and others that he was going to succeed in achieving his childhood dream.

Coach Matt learned the basics in his driveway with a hoop his father built. After school and weekend mornings were often spent with his father, older brother and sister practicing in the driveway of his row-home in Northeast Philadelphia.

His mom started the St. Martin of Tours intramural league where he learned the fundamentals of the game from his coach and his father. He was a member of two Chestnut Hill Academy (CHA) Inter-Ac Championships and later played DII basketball at Millersville University before transferring to the University of Pennsylvania.

After graduating in 1999, Coach Matt played professional basketball in Darmstadt, Germany. As part of his training, Coach Matt competed against NBA players such as Kobe Bryant, Allen Iverson, Eddie Jones, Rasheed Wallace, Aaron McKie, Cuttino Mobley and Alvin Williams. A knee injury ended his professional playing career.

What he learned during these exciting years what that it’s not just about making it, but it was about the journey and who we become along the way. His experiences taught him that learning how to get back up when you fall is as important as getting to the top. He also learned how important it is to have positive people in one’s corner to help us get back up.

Coach Matt longed to share these lessons along with his love for the game of basketball with kids. He began his coaching career at CHA, coaching freshman, junior varsity and varsity teams. During this time, he continued to teach the game through camps and clinics for boys and girls ages 5-17 in the Philadelphia area.

Coach Matt’s philosophy is to teach the fundamentals in a fun and challenging environment. In his programs, Matt incorporates his five core principles: Courage, Determination, Respects, Sportsmanship, and Teamwork. By teaching basketball in a fun and positive atmosphere, Coach Matt believes kids can gain confidence, challenge themselves, improve their skills and learn critical life skills. Along with his coaching staff, Coach Matt gives participants the tools to understand how to enjoy and appreciate the game so they will have more fun playing the game.