Chad Pulkkinen graduated from Windham High School in
2002, was a top player in the state, all conference, McDonalds All Star and
helped lead the Eagles to the post season both his junior and senior
years.
After graduating, Chad attended Saint Joseph’s
College where he played for Hall of Fame Coach Rick Simonds and current head
coach Rob Sanicola. Despite tearing his ACL in both his freshman and
sophomore year Pulkkinen accumulated numerous accolades as a player and served
three years as a captain.
Some Team Achievements:
· Helped
lead the monks to an NCAA Appearance (2003)
·
Northeast Region Independent Champions (2007)
· ECAC
Championship (2007)
· Senior
Year Record (22-8) the best record in the schools past 16 seasons
Individual Achievements
· Scored
1,000 points
· All
Independent Team (2007)
· All
Maine State Team (2007)
· New
England Senior All Star (2007)
· Three
Time Independent Player of the Week (2007)
·
Bridgewater State Tip Off All Tournament Team (2007)
· Maine
Event All Tournament Team (2007)
·
Independent All Tournament Team (2007)
· 2nd
All Time in Career Three Pointers Made (192)
· 3rd
All Time in Three Pointers Made in a season (83,2006-2007)
· 10th
All Time in Three Point Field Goal Percentage (.341)
· 2nd
All Time in Season Free throw percentage (.857, 2006-2007)
· 6th
All Time in Career Free Throw Percentage (.759)
After Graduating from Saint Joseph’s College, Pulkkinen signed
a contract to play professional basketball overseas with the Northampton
Neptunes in the England Basketball League (EBL). He averaged 19
points per game and was one of the top players in the league, leading his team
to two national cup games. Chad was asked to re-sign for a second
season before suffering a third ACL tear in the summer of 2008, which ended his
playing career. Part of Pulkkinen’s contract was to help develop and
train the youth in the city of Northampton, United Kingdom. The team
was responsible for over 400 kids within the community, helping to teach
fundamentals and providing mentorship as basketball coaches to the youth.
The team provided camps, games and clinics around their busy practice and game
schedules.
"I have always wanted to do a full circle back to
Windham to help the basketball program once I graduated high school and it was
always a dream of mine to one day coach the varsity program. I did not
think the opportunity would be available as quick as it has and I am grateful
for the opportunity," Pulkkinen said. Living and working in the Windham community,
Pulkkinen is married with two children and is the president of Windham Millwork.
Looking at the 2015-16 season, it will be exciting
as the team looks to establish its identity. The team has some key
seniors returning with a majority of the players being sophomores and
juniors.
Pulkkinen said, "Our style of play will be a fast
pace style with opportunities for our entire team to help make us successful.
Our success depends on the players buying into our system, striving to
get better and players being able to contribute quickly. With a young
team patience is key, and continuing to get better every day is our main focus.
The schedule is very demanding, being a part of the newly formed AA North
with arguably some of the best teams in the state in our division."
Pulkkinen believes the future looks bright for the program and he
is hoping to help use his playing experience and connections to help
develop Windham's student athletes at both the junior high and high school
level but also in the youth programs. Pulkkinen looks forward to all
the challenges this first year may bring as well building and developing the
players throughout the year.
Windham boys basketball’s first home game will be December
8th against Cheverus at 7 p.m.
No comments:
Post a Comment