As the current longest tenured head coach at North Central University, Paul Brunner now heads into his 7th season leading the Rams in 2021-22.
Following a successful 2015-2016 rookie campaign as interim head coach, Brunner was named the permanent head coach of the Rams women's basketball program. During his first season at the helm, Brunner's team won a National Christian College Athletic Association North Central Region Championship, and finished fifth at the NCCAA National Tournament.
During his time at NCU, the women's basketball program has improved their Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) record and finish every season. The 2020-21 season was historic for NCU women’s basketball in many ways. The Rams won their first ever conference championship in program history, with an overall record of 18-4 and 7-1 in the UMAC. The program set additional records including total wins with 18, winning percentage with .818, conference winning percentage with .875, being awarded as UMAC regular-season champions, and notching the first two UMAC postseason tournament wins while hosting the conference tournament as the #1 overall seed.
NCU women’s basketball has now qualified for the UMAC post-season conference tournament for three consecutive years after advancing to the tournament in 2018-19 for the first time. After the 2018-19 season, Coach Brunner was recognized as the NCCAA North Region Coach of the Year. In the last three seasons combined, the Rams have won a program record 45 games.
While at North Central, Brunner has coached 12 UMAC All-Conference players, including the 2018-19 conference Freshman of the Year, three NCCAA All-Americans, and two players who have broken the NCU women’s basketball career scoring record. The Rams have also been recognized by the Women’s Basketball Coaching Association (WBCA) for having a Top 10 team GPA in the country out of all NCAA DIII schools.Â
Under Coach Brunner, the Rams have become known for their up-tempo, unselfish brand of basketball. NCU continues to embrace modern basketball trends that have helped propel them to the top of the conference in several categories, including three point shooting for three consecutive seasons. During the 2020-21 season, NCU led the entire country (NCAA DIII) in made 3PT FG’s - averaging just under 10 made 3’s per game. The Rams also led the conference in 3PT FG Made, 3PT FG%, total blocks, total assists, FT Made, rebounding, and defensive FG%.
In his prep basketball career, Brunner was a four-year starter and the all-time leading scorer at Christian Life School (Farmington, Minn.). Despite having the opportunity to play in college, he had to end his playing career early due to a significant head injury. Before taking over the women’s program, Brunner served as an assistant coach for the NCU men’s basketball team under Head Coach Jon High. During that season, the men’s team clinched a UMAC postseason berth and qualified for the NCCAA National Tournament. At North Central, Brunner currently serves as the Athletics Operations Director, as well as Head Women’s Golf Coach.
Brunner and his wife Abby currently live in Lakeville with their son Miles.
