March 22, 1999
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman University has announced that April 10, 1999, will be known as Paul Scarpa Day at Furman University in honor of head men's tennis coach Paul Scarpa's 1000th match at Furman.
Scarpa is currently in his 33rd year at the helm of the Paladin program and is the third winningest active coach in Division I. Entering the 1999 season, Scarpa had tallied a 609-363 record in 32 seasons at Furman and a 645-382 record in 35 seasons as a collegiate coach. Scarpa is only the second Division I coach to coach in 1000 matches, joining Hawaii's Jim Schwitters in this exclusive club.
Furman will face Georgia Southern at 10 a.m. on Saturday, April 10, 1999, in Scarpa's 1000th match at Furman. All former players, friends, and colleagues of Scarpa are invited to take part in the festivities. Tentatively planned for Paul Scarpa Day is a short presentation by the school prior to the start of the match, a luncheon after the completion of the match, followed by a roast of Scarpa where current and former players, along with friends, will have the opportunity to share their favorite "Scarpa Stories."
Scarpa, a native of Charleston, S.C., was a 1986 inductee into the South Carolina Tennis Hall-of-Fame, 1994 inductee into the Furman Athletic Hall-of-Fame, 1975 South Carolina Professional-of-the-Year, Southern Coach-of-the-Year in 1978, Southern Conference Coach-of-the-Year in 1976, 1977, 1984, 1986, and 1998, and 1990 South Carolina Coach-of-the-Year. He has coached 101 players who have been named All-Southern Conference as well as 69 Southern Conference singles champions and 28 Southern Conference doubles champions.
While Scarpa's influence has left its mark at Furman and in South Carolina, it has also been felt at the national level. In what Scarpa calls one of his proudest accomplishments, the NCAA, in 1993, began utilizing a new dual match scoring system - developed by Scarpa - in all men's dual match and championship play. Known as the Scarpa System, the format specifies that all matches begin with doubles play featuring eight-game pro sets and that all three doubles teams play for one team doubles point. The proven aim of the system was to shorten the time frame of a typical dual match, thus increasing overall intensity and fan interest - two elements that are hallmarks of Scarpa's Furman program.
Scarpa has coached a number of terrific athletes in his 33 years at Furman and has helped guide three to the coveted NCAA Tournament. Don Barton advanced to the round of 16 in 1981; Ned Caswell shocked the tennis community as he advanced to the round of 16 in 1986 and to the quarterfinals in 1987; and last season, Sam Schroerlucke earned a bid to the tournament.
Scarpa continues to field excellent squads, as his 1998 team cruised through the conference with a perfect 9-0 record. He has posted winning records in 29 of his 32 seasons at Furman and has had only one losing season since 1970.
For more information about Paul Scarpa Day, contact: Chris Colvin, (864) 294-3062