The clock was ticking down, showing only eight seconds left in the regional girl’s basketball game between West Ottawa and Byron Center. The season was riding on this moment. Fans were out of their seats. Both student sections were chanting; the score was 39-38, West Ottawa ahead. On the left bench of Hudsonville’s new gymnasium, Coach Paul Chapman called his last timeout of the game and possibly of his career. The team had been fighting to win regionals for the first time since 1986, Chapman’s years of coaching had come down to this very moment.
After 44 basketball seasons, Chapman’s career has proven to be one full of success. Chapman has coached men’s basketball at six different high schools across Ohio and Michigan. These include two high schools in Ohio, a small Christian high school in Battle Creek, West Ottawa High School (WO), Grand Haven High School, and Holland High School. Additionally, he has coached girls’ basketball at one high school, here at West Ottawa. Chapman said, “I did girls’ varsity most recently. The only time I’ve coached girls was in the last seven years. Before that, I did boys varsity, boys JV, and boys freshman.”
A lot of his success came with coaching women’s basketball at WO. Chapman led the women’s basketball team to success with seven straight winning seasons. In his final season, the 2023-24 season, the team finished 20-7 and were district and regional champions. Chapman ended his career with a regional coach of the year award for Region 7.
But for Chapman, winning was about more than just the scoreboard. Though Chapman has proven to be very successful through his years of coaching, he also strove to build strong relationships with his players. George Washington University freshman Gabby Reynolds said, “I will forever stay in contact with Coach Chapman; he’s had such a huge impact on my life.” Reynolds touches on how Chapman has been a blessing in her basketball career and has helped her in many impactful ways through her recruitment process. Not only has Chapman helped her become a D1 athlete, but as Reynolds said, “He truly wanted the best for me in every area in life.” Although Chapman was an influence on recent players, 2021 graduate Kaley Hendrick said, “He also took the time to connect with each of us personally.” Chapman did more than just coach the team and help lead them to success, he focused on getting to know them and building a strong relationship that was more important than just basketball.
Chapman’s wife Lori Chapman said, “I think he’s the best coach around …. because of the relationships he builds with his players.” Not only did the players witness Chapman’s efforts to connect, but so did his wife. The effort he made was incomparable. Brooke Pedersen and her sister Grace, both college students, receive texts from Chapman weekly. Brooke Pedersen said, “I will never forget when he told our team in the locker room that he wants to win, but the relationships he has with every one of us are the most important thing to him.” Chapman made it his top priority to make sure that every player knew that though his goal was to win and be the best they could, the connection he made with them meant more.
His influence was not only on the court during their high school years but also after their graduation. “‘We’ve traveled to Ohio several times to watch “grand-athletes” of his play,’” Lori Chapman said. She adds how rewarding it feels to get invited to a former player’s wedding or to watch them compete in sports. Chapman shows that he made it his top priority to forever influence his past players in whatever positive ways he could.
“I think it was right to be done at West Ottawa,” Chapman said. After announcing his retirement from WO two years ago after the 2022 season, Chapman decided to stay coaching and he was glad. “I planned on being done two years ago and then I kept going the last two to finish with Gab, Chels, and Brooke which was a really really cool way to finish out,” Chapman said. “Certainly we had an unbelievable year last year which makes it a nice little ending.”
Ultimately, Chapman’s strategic coaching and late hours spent watching films and drawing up plays led West Ottawa to win the regional championship game against Byron Center. Chapman has had a great ride at WO but doesn’t think he is done coaching just yet. He said that this year he will help coach his daughter’s team in Marshall and see how that goes. There is a chance we will see Chapman back on the sidelines again, “I think I’m gonna be a head coach again sometime, so I don’t think it’s done,” Chapman said.
Though Coach Chapman may be stepping off the sidelines for now, the legacy of his support will stick with his players as they begin new paths in life.
