BY MATT SCHOOLEY

When the house Paul Hogan grew up in became part of the Plymouth State campus, he seemed destined to be a part of the school. On Sept. 30, he becomes a part of the school’s history.

Hogan, now the men’s basketball coach and athletics director at New Hampshire Technical Institute in Concord, awaits induction into the Plymouth State Athletic Hall of Fame following eight successful seasons with the school. He will be enshrined in the 23rd annual induction ceremony at the Hall of Fame Banquet on Sunday, Sept. 30, at Plymouth State University.

After growing up in Plymouth along with eight other brothers and sisters, Hogan attended the school, where his father was a professor.

During his sophomore year, he served as the head coach for Plymouth Junior High School’s baseball, soccer and football programs, something he said helped set him up for a successful career.

“I knew I wanted to coach when I was in eighth or ninth grade,” he said. “The reality is that all the things you do along the way amount and account for something. You try to learn from each step. I was with some great people.”

After a whirlwind five years from 1985-90 that included teaching, assistant coaching and going back to school for his masters, Hogan was named Plymouth State’s head men’s basketball coach in June 1990.

Hogan, known to many for his accomplishments with college students, also hosts numerous camps to teach younger athletes basketball, something that always impressed his former assistant coach James Carey.

 “He is able to have success at any level with any type of kid. He used to go from elementary physical education to coaching college kids, and work with those two different extreme levels and really draw the most out of them,” said Carey. “It’s because he treats people with such respect, and he draws the most out of people because of the relationships he develops with them.”

The pair worked together for three years and developed a close friendship. Carey said Hogan had a tremendous impact on his coaching career. Carey is currently at Plymouth Regional High School, where he serves as a physical education teacher and boys basketball coach.

“He’s a great mentor of mine, and he has been the most important person to me and my coaching career and philosophy. He’s really helped me develop through playing and working with him.  It was a great learning experience,” he said.

Dave Levesque, who was recruited out of high school by Hogan to play at Plymouth State, said it was the coach’s attitude toward players that has made him so successful.

“He let players play and was honest with them. He took an interest in their lives outside of basketball. He was always asking what he could do to help after graduation,” said Levesque.  “As a coach he knows how to work in the whole scheme of the team aspect. He treats all of his players as family, which is a lost art today.”

After moving to NHTI in 1999, Hogan has collected successes as both coach and athletics director. His men’s basketball team won the 2005 USCAA Division-II National Championship.

Hogan said his style of coaching has changed through the years.

“At this point in my career I am probably a lot more relaxed,” he said with a laugh. “If you saw me a few years ago, I was probably a lot more animated.”