Men's Basketball
- Title:
- Assistant Coach
- Email:
- kpaulino@csufresno.edu
- Phone:
- 559-278-2748
Kenton Paulino is entering his sixth season on the Fresno State men's basketball staff, primarily responsible for game preparation, recruiting, skill development and summer camp coordination.
Paulino has helped lead Fresno State to postseason appearances in three of the last four seasons, including a NCAA Tournament appearance in 2016 and NIT appearance in 2017.
During the 2015-16 season, Paulino helped lead the Bulldogs to the 2016 Mountain West Championship title and a 2016 NCAA Tournament appearance.  With a 13-5 record in league play, the 'Dogs finished second in conference, which gave the Bulldogs their highest seed for a conference tournament since 2001 and guided the program back to the NCAA Tournament for the 1st time since 2001.  Fresno State won 25 games, which is the third most wins in a single season in school history, including wins in nine of its last 10 games and 11 of its last 12.
With Paulino on the staff, Fresno State has won 20 or more games in three of the past four seasons and the Bulldogs have increased their conference win total in four of the past five seasons. Under Paulino’s tutelage, Fresno State senior guard Marvelle Harris was named the 2015-16 MW Preseason and Postseason Player of the Year. Fresno State also finished the season in the Top 5 nationally in turnover margin and went 6-0 in games decided by a single possession.
During 2013-14 season, Fresno State won 21 games, including wins in 13 of its last 18 games, and finished in the postseason as the 2014 College Basketball Invitational Runner-Up. With Paulino’s coaching, Fresno State forward Paul Watson was also named the 2014 Mountain West Freshman of the Year and a Freshman All-American.  Harris and Tyler Johnson were also named all-conference.
Paulino worked for three seasons a special assistant at The University of Texas. The 27-year-old Paulino assists in all internal operations of the basketball program.
As a part of the Texas coaching staff, Paulino 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.
Prior to reuniting with Terry, he coached the 2011-12 season at Lamar University as an assistant under head coach Pat Knight. Paulino helped guide the Cardinals to their sixth NCAA Tournament appearance and first since the 1999-2000 season. To get there, Lamar capped its run through the Southland Conference Tournament with a convincing 70-49 win in the title game over rival McNeese State. The Cardinals encountered their first 20-win season since 1987-88. Lamar's 23 wins ties for the third highest single season total in school history.
Due to the outstanding season, Lamar had three players recognized as All-Southland Conference. Mike James was a first-team all-conference selection, while Devon Lamb and Anthony Miles were both named to the second-team. Brandon Davis was also honored by the league as he was named to the all-academic first-team.
A native of Los Angeles and born on June 23, 1983, Paulino is married to the former Shelette Williams, and they welcomed their first daughter, Kiera Meshell, on Oct. 19, 2014.
