March 7, 2007
Paluch Will Return
CHN Staff Report
Eliminating any doubt as to the status of Bowling Green coach Scott Paluch, school athletic director Greg Christopher told this Bowling Green Sentinel-Tribune that Paluch will return next season.
The Falcons finished in last place this season, and lost its first-round playoff series last weekend. They are 13-40-3 the last two seasons, and 55-111-20 overall in Paluch's five seasons.
"He'll definitely be back," Christopher told the Sentinel-Tribune. "He'll be the first to tell you he’s disappointed with our record, but I'm encouraged by the way the team played the last five, six weeks of the season. The team definitely improved during the last half of the season."
Christopher is in his first season as BGSU athletic director. He replaced Paul Krebs, who signed Paluch to a three-year contract extension in 2005.
Paluch has three years left on that deal, which pays him $110,725 per season.
Paluch was an All-American defenseman for the Falcons, playing under Jerry York until 1988. Paluch was later an assistant coach to York at Boston College. Paluch replaced Buddy Powers at Bowling Green in April 2002.
"We need to improve, there’s no question about that," Paluch told the paper.
"I truly believe this is a good team right now. There's no evidence of that in terms of our record and what we've done, but I do believe it's a good team."
The Falcons' last winning record was 1997, and last NCAA appearance is 1990. Bowling Green won a national title under York in 1984.
"Hockey is one of the sports we can compete on a national level," Christopher told the Sentinel-Tribune. "You look at the teams which have competed in the Frozen Four and we can compete with those teams. Hockey is very important, but we have to make it a priority and give them the resources to be successful."
