Mike Paulo enters the 2019 season in his seventh year as the head softball coach at Elmhurst College.
Paulo, who spent five seasons as an assistant with Elmhurst, before taking over head coaching duties in 2013, guided Elmhurst to a 17-15 record in his first year as the team's head coach. Lindsey Mikulecky and Katie Boals were both named to the all-conference team in Paulo's first season.
In 2014, Paulo guided Elmhurst to a 15-15 overall record and a 5-9 mark in the CCIW, a two-game improvement over the previous season. Ele Walter earned first-team all-conference honors while Clare Bukowski, Meg Griffin and Bella Masini were all selected to the second team.
In 2015, Paulo's squad totaled a 20-18 overall record while Bella Masini and Alyssa Jasinski earned first-team all-conference recognition. Ele Walter and Stefanie Sanidas earned second-team all-CCIW honors.
In 2017, Paulo guided the Bluejays to a 19-19 overall record and an 8-8 mark in the CCIW. The eight conference wins were the most victories in a single-season in a 20-year span for the Bluejays.
In four seasons as the Bluejays' head coach, Paulo has an overall record of 104-105.
Before taking over as head coach, Paulo spent five seasons as an assistant coach for the Bluejays. Elmhurst won over 20 games in two of his five seasons, including a school-record 25 victories in 2012. The Bluejays also qualified for their first College Conference of Illinois and Wisconsin Tournament in 15 years.
In addition to his time at Elmhurst, Paulo spent three seasons as an assistant coach at Benedictine University. He also coached at the high school level, serving as head coach at the Illinois Math and Science Academy and Hinsdale Central High School.
Paulo has more than 30 years of playing and coaching experience in softball. A member of the 16-inch softball Hall of Fame, Paulo began coaching in 1985 and led his teams to multiple national championship appearances in a variety of age groups.
Working with the Lemont Rockers 18U softball organization, Paulo guided the 14-and-under squad to a 14th place finish in the 2002 World Championships in Orlando, Fla. He led the 16-and-under and 18-and-under groups to five consecutive national tournament appearances and two top-20 finishes. He guided the 2008 squad to a fifth-place finish in the ASA national tournament.
Most recently, Paulo directed the Downers Grove Rebels squad to a seventh-place national finish.
Paulo earned a bachelor's degree from North Central College in 2004 and currently resides in Woodridge. He and his wife, Donna, have four daughters: Nina, Natalie, Valerie and Dana.
