Kenton Paulino recently completed his third season as a special assistant at The University of Texas. The 27-year-old Paulino assists in all internal operations of the basketball program. In his first three seasons on the Texas coaching staff, Paulino has helped the Longhorns post a 75-30 (.714) record while making three NCAA Tournament appearances. During the 2010-11 season, the Longhorns recorded a 28-8 mark, the third-most wins in a single season in school history, and advanced to the NCAA Third Round. UT's No. 8 spot in the final AP poll marked the third-highest ranking in the final AP poll in school history. Texas climbed to the top of both major national polls (Associated Press, ESPN/USA Today Coaches) on Jan. 11, 2010, marking the first time in program history that the Horns had been the top-ranked team in the nation in either major poll. Texas held the top spot in both polls for a two-week stretch. A two-year starter and four-year letterwinner at both point and shooting guard for the Longhorns (2003-06), Paulino was a member of four NCAA Tournament teams and made trips to the Final Four (2003), "Elite Eight" (2006) and "Sweet 16" (2004). He played in 106 games (62 starts), ranked third in school history in career three-point field goal percentage (.401) and averaged 6.5 points per contest. During his senior season (2005-06), Paulino was a team tri-captain who led the Horns to a school-record 30-7 mark, the Big 12 Conference regular-season title and the "Elite Eight" of the NCAA tourney. A starter in all 37 games, he earned the Lowe's Home Improvement Most Improved Player award as the team's Most Improved Player, gained a spot on the Big 12 Conference All-Underrated team by the league's media and was one of six players nationally named to SI.com's "All-Glue" team. In the NCAA "Sweet 16" contest against No. 22 West Virginia in Atlanta, Paulino hit the game-winning three-pointer as time expired to lift the Longhorns to a dramatic 74-71 win. Following his senior season, Paulino played two years professionally, one overseas in Turkey and a second with the Austin Toros of the NBA Development League (2007-08). He earned his bachelor's of arts degree in ethnic studies from Texas in August 2008. Born June 23, 1983 in Los Angeles, Paulino and his wife, Shelette, reside in Austin. |
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