April 10, 1999
GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman University celebrated men's tennis coach Paul Scarpa's 1000th match Saturday on Paul Scarpa Day at the Minor Mickel Tennis Center.
Scarpa is currently in his 33rd year at the helm of the Paladin program and is the third winningest active coach in Division I. Scarpa has tallied 620 victories at Furman and holds a 656-398 record in 36 seasons as a collegiate coach. Scarpa is only the second Division I coach to oversee 1000 matches at one school, joining Hawaii's Jim Schwitters in this exclusive club. Prior to the start of the match, Furman University honored Scarpa with a 15 minute tribute in which former standout player Ned Caswell '87 and Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. John Block both made remarks. The Furman Athletic Department, the 1999 Furman team, and Georgia Southern's men's team all made presentations to Scarpa. Following the match, former players and friends paid tribute to Scarpa and shared their favorite "Scarpa Stories." United States Davis Cup captain Tom Gullikson was in attendance and participated in the festivities.
Georgia Southern edged Furman 4-3 in a tight match as the Eagles' Ryan O'Keefe downed Furman senior Brian Gill 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 in the deciding match.
"I think that anybody who knows Paul, knows that nobody can match him when it comes to hard work and effort," said Caswell during the ceremony. "I think the best compliment that I can give Coach is as a player, he inspired me to be my best as a player, and as a person and a friend, he inspires me to be my best as a person."
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.
"Paul's successes and accomplishments are just some of the reasons why he's a great coach. But there are additional reasons which really are more important," said Furman Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics Dr. John Block. "Paul has always focused on teaching and helping young people regardless of the setting. He's always had the understanding that a game is a means to teach values and lessons that will lead to lives lived at a higher level and in a more noble fashion. That is why Paul Scarpa is a great coach."
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 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.