NE10 40th Anniversary Home Page
One of the driving forces behind the modern-day success of Saint Anselm College and its athletics program, Ted Paulauskas was selected as an “Outstanding Individual” as part of the Northeast-10 Conference’s 40th Anniversary celebration.
A 1967 graduate of Assumption College and a veteran of the United States Army, Paulauskas joined Saint Anselm in 1974 in a dual role, serving as the College’s Head Men’s Basketball Coach while also assuming the Director of Athletics position on the Hilltop. He stepped down as the leader of the basketball team in 1981 to focus solely on the department’s administrative duties.
Inducted into the Saint Anselm Athletics Hall of Fame in 1999, he was cited for “leaving an indelible and lasting mark not only on the athletics program, but the College itself.” He also furthered the growth of the NE10 when he assumed the Director of Athletics role at his alma-mater in 2003, eventually retiring from college athletics in 2011.
“I have enjoyed and valued my experience at Saint Anselm enormously,” said Paulauskas upon his departure from Saint Anselm in 1999. “I have the greatest admiration and respect for the mission of the college and the wonderful education and overall experience it provides for students. Athletics plays an important role in that educational experience and I've been proud and happy to be a part of that.”
Paulauskas was instrumental in growing the College’s athletics department, moving from six intercollegiate varsity sports in the 1970’s to as many as 19 in the late 2000’s. Increasing the size of the athletics staff from eight employees to as many as 54, he also secured Saint Anselm’s entry into the then-named Northeast-8 Conference in the early 1980’s.
Describing the move to Northeast-8 play as “the most positive thing we’ve done for our intercollegiate athletic program in many years,” Paulauskas and the College’s decision to commit to the fledgling league dramatically improved the experience of student-athletes on the Hilltop and created new varsity programs for both men and women.
Joining the College in 1974, the institution’s first year of co-education and the first year of Title IX, he championed opportunities for women to participate in intercollegiate sport. He introduced women’s tennis, women’s volleyball and women’s basketball at that time and adapted the College’s facilities to accommodate the new group of incoming student-athletes.
He has been largely responsible for the creation of and improvements to many athletics facilities on campus, including the Kavanagh Fields in 1974, the John Maurus Carr Activities Center in 1981, the South Athletic Fields in 1990, Melucci Field in 1998 and both Grappone Stadium and outdoor tennis courts in 1999.
Off the playing surface, Paulauskas formed an athletics alumni club and formalized the Saint Anselm College Athletics Hall of Fame in 1980. As a coach and mentor to countless student-athletes, Paulauskas led the men’s basketball and men’s golf programs during his tenure, winning 77 games with the hoops program.
One of his larger accomplishments as Director of Athletics was the re-introduction of football to the Hilltop after a hiatus of over 50 years. Saint Anselm was a small college football power in the 1930’s and 1940’s, but Paulauskas started a brand-new team from scratch, overseeing the myriad of details required for the successful launch of the program.
In total during his tenure, Paulauskas and the College introduced women’s tennis, women’s volleyball, women’s basketball, women’s cross country, spring baseball, softball, women’s soccer, men’s lacrosse, football and women’s lacrosse.
Paulauskas became the first Assumption alum to serve as athletic director when he took over in 2003. During his time in Worcester, he oversaw substantial improvement in the College's athletic facilities, specifically the construction of the Multi-Sport Stadium and the extensive renovations of Laska Gymnasium, Rocheleau Field (baseball), Marois Field (softball) and the tennis courts. On the playing surfaces, Assumption claimed Northeast-10 Championships in men's basketball, softball and men's tennis, including most recently with the 2011 softball regular-season title.
Well respected among his peers, Paulauskas served on a variety of committees, including but not limited to the Eastern College Athletic Conference’s Executive Council, the NCAA District I Basketball Advisory Committee, the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Awards Committee and the New Hampshire Women’s Athletic Conference Executive Board.
A native of Cherry Valley, Mass., he was a standout athlete at St. John's High School in Shrewsbury, Mass. and Assumption, where he was a three-time all-New England Division II basketball player. His teams posted a 70-19 overall record and advanced to the NCAA Regional in each of his four seasons. He has earned well-deserved placements in the St. John’s, Assumption and Saint Anselm Athletics Halls of Fame.
Ted Paulauskas Links of Note
ABOUT THE NE10
Beginning its 40th anniversary season, the NE10 is an association of 14 diverse institutions serving student-athletes across 24 NCAA Division II sports. Together we build brilliant futures by embracing the journey of every student-athlete.
Each year, 4,500 of those student-athletes compete in conference championships in 24 sports, making the NE10 the largest DII conference in the country in terms of sport sponsorship. Leading the way in the classroom, on the field and within the community, the NE10 is proud of its comprehensive program and the experience it provides student-athletes.