Bill Paulik Court Dedicated at Salisbury High School

In a move that some say was long overdue, Salisbury High School honored former basketball coach Bill Paulik Thursday by naming the school’s new basketball court in a dedication ceremony preceding the Falcons’ final game of the season against Southern Lehigh.

Paulik, now 80, was led to the podium by former star players Tony Stellar and Gene Jani. Stellar, a 1972 graduate, was Salisbury’s first 1,000-point scorer.

"I've been standing here and a lot of things are going through my mind and one of the main things is, Coach, you are a little sucker," Stellar joked. "We were going to have this a month ago, on a special night, Coach Paulik's 80th birthday, but we couldn't do it. So we're doing it tonight."

He then led the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday" to Paulik.

Paulik retired in 1993 with a win-loss record of 539-241, making him the coach with the second most wins in Lehigh Valley/District XI boys basketball history. He had three overall and eight divisional Lehigh-Northampton League championships, four District XI and six Colonial League titles. He served the school for more than 30 years as head basketball coach, physical education instructor and athletic director.

Speakers included school director Tom Mantz; Dennis Ramella, a Salisbury graduate, past president of District XI and athletic director at Emmaus High School, Don Harakal, athletic director for Southern Lehigh High School and Tony Moll, Colonial League vice president.

"Coach Paulik is a man who is respected by everyone," Harakal said. "The turnout tonight is a testament to what Coach Paulik has been not only to Salisbury High School but also to Colonial League Lehigh Valley basketball."

Gene Jani, one of Paulik’s standout players from the 1989-90 season, launched a campaign last fall to have the school’s new gymnasium named Paulik Pavilion. But the school district had no formal naming rights policy and the school board needed to create one before it would make a decision to name a facility after someone. Several board members wanted to name the old gymnasium, which will be renovated this summer and opened to the public, named after Paulik. When Jani objected, the board compromised and passed a motion to honor Paulik by naming the gym’s basketball court after him.

"Coach Paulik isn't just a coach, he's been a friend since the first day I met him," Jani said. "Thank you for everything you've given me."

As Paulik stepped up to the podium he looked over at the boys basketball team and their coach and smiled.

"I have just one word for you," Paulik said. "Win!"

Morning Call sportswriter Keith Groller called the move to recognize Paulik “well deserved, and overdue in my opinion. Even though he hasn't coached in 18 years, when I think of Salisbury, I first think of Paulik. He's the first person that comes to mind.”

Paulik’s whole family turned out for the dedication ceremony: wife Joanne, four children and eight of his nine grandchildren. His two sons played basketball in the 1980s and his two daughters were cheerleaders at Salisbury.

“This was always a family thing,” Paulik’s oldest daughter Susan said. “Everyone came to every game all season long. And you had to be at the school by 5:15 because the gym sold out every game. My grandmother used to come and stay overnight so she could be at the games.”

Paulik's wife, Joanne, said the ceremony was "very exciting."

"I think this means more," Joanne said. "You will see this [logo] everytime you come to a game."