For nearly three decades, Paul Schmidt has been coaching the Nassau Community College wrestling team. Before his coaching career began, he had a very successful wrestling career at the high school and college levels.

Coach Schmidt started his wrestling career as a senior at Mepham High School before attending Nassau Community College and the University of Florida. During his senior year at Mepham High School, he was asked to wrestle by Hall of Fame Coach Ken Hunte.

“Not too many people would say no to Coach Hunte,” Coach Schmidt replied.

That short conversation in the hallway of Mepham High School would change Coach Schmidt’s life and make him a lifelong member of the Nation Wrestling community. Even though he didn’t place in his senior year at the county championships, he had a very successful season, beating many of the top wrestlers in his weight class. He continued his wrestling career at Nassau Community College. After his two years at Nassau, Paul finished up as an All American, placing fourth in the nation and finishing up with a 52-6 record. After Nassau, Coach Schmidt went to the University of Florida and placed second in the SEC Championships. With a 22-6 record, he earned a berth at the NCAA Division 1 National Tournament.

He then became the assistant wrestling coach at Nassau Community College in 1986 under NJCAA Hall of Fame Coach Chuck Henke. Ten years later, in 1996, he took the helm as head coach. For the last eighteen years, his team has won six NJCAA National Championships in 2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, and two National Dual Meet Championship in 2004 and 2005. Coach Schmidt was named NJCAA Man of the Year in 2004 and selected to coach at the NCAA Division 1 All Star Match in 2005. Coach Schmidt was the NJCAA Wrestling Coach of the Year in 2003, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2013 and was inducted into the NJCAA Hall of Fame in 2010. In 2013, for the second time in his career, Paul was recognized by the NYS College Coaches Association as NYS Coach of the Year.

Coach Schmidt has coached 11 NJCAA Individual National Champions and 103 NJCAA All Americans.

Coach Schmidt is a retired New York City Fire Officer, has a Bachelor’s Degree in Recreation Administration from Empire State College and a Master’s Degree in Liberal Studies from Stony Brook University.

He currently is a full-time professor and the Coordinator of the Fire Science/Emergency management Degree program at Nassau Community College.

Coach has been married for 37 years to his wife Mary. They have three children, Dara, Colleen, Paula, and four grandchildren.