UW-Stevens Point men’s basketball assistant coach Paul Combs has announced his retirement following three impactful seasons with the Pointers’ program.
“These last three years have meant everything to my family and me,” Combs said. “UWSP is a special place, and the Stevens Point community welcomed us with open arms from the moment we arrived. We will always be grateful for that. Coaching is a demanding profession, but not many dads get the chance to share it day to day with their own children. Having Caden as our lead manager, watching Carter grow into a starting point guard, and seeing Lucy stop by after school to help out at practice are memories my wife Michelle and I will cherish forever.”
Combs joined the Pointers’ staff ahead of the 2023-24 season. He played a key role in UWSP exceeding expectations with a fourth-place finish in the WIAC after being picked eighth in the preseason. In year two, the Pointers improved to 18-9 and advanced to the WIAC Tournament semifinals, posting the program’s best winning percentage since the 2018-19 season. That season also included UWSP’s first Top-25 ranking of the decade, rising to No. 11 nationally after a December 7 win over No. 1 Trine.
During the 2025-26 season, UWSP took another significant step forward, finishing second in the WIAC and earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament to end an eight-year drought.
“Over the past three years, Paul Combs has had a tremendous impact on me personally and on UWSP Basketball,” said head coach Kent Dernbach. “When you look at his career — more than 320 wins, championships at multiple stops, and success at every level — it’s no surprise the influence he’s had here. But what stands out most is who he is every day: consistent, loyal, and fully invested in our players and this program. He is an amazing human who happens to be a tremendous basketball coach. Coach Combs played a major role in helping us take meaningful steps forward, from three consecutive WIAC semifinal appearances to returning to the NCAA Tournament, and I’m incredibly grateful for the relationship we built and everything he gave to UWSP.”
Combs brought an extensive and accomplished background to Stevens Point. Prior to UWSP, he spent 24 years as a head coach at the Division II and Division III levels, totaling more than 320 career victories. Sixteen of those seasons included stints in the WIAC, CCIW, and NSIC.
He spent nine seasons at Carroll racking up 104 wins as head coach. Before his time at Carroll, Combs led Wayne State College for four seasons, winning 54 games and helping elevate the program to national prominence. His 2012-13 team posted the best start in school history and the program’s highest win total in more than a decade while leading the NSIC in scoring defense and three-point defense.
No stranger to the WIAC, Combs spent six seasons at UW-Platteville, where he was named WIAC Coach of the Year in 2004-05 after leading the Pioneers to a conference championship. In his final season, Platteville defeated Division I Bradley on the road, climbed to No. 1 in the national rankings, and finished 23-6. He posted a 104-55 record during his time with the Pioneers.
Prior to Platteville, Combs helped revive Lakeland College, going 60-45 in four seasons after inheriting a program that had won just 20 games in the previous three years. Before Lakeland, he served as the top assistant at Ripon College, helping his alma mater compile a 102-21 record and make four NCAA Division III Tournament appearances in five years.
Across his assistant coaching stops at Ripon College and UW-Stevens Point, Combs compiled a 153-51 record with five NCAA Tournament appearances.
Throughout his career, Combs made it a priority to help his players get the most out of their experience as Division III student-athletes, both on and off the court. Over more than 30 years in coaching, his teams traveled extensively across the United States, including trips to Orlando, Las Vegas, New York City, Philadelphia, Austin, Daytona Beach, San Diego, Buffalo, Niagara Falls, Salt Lake City, Washington, D.C., New Orleans, Dallas, Indianapolis, and Nashville.
International travel — a rare opportunity at the Division III level — also became a meaningful part of the programs he led. His teams traveled to Ireland; throughout Canada, including Winnipeg, Windsor, and Toronto; and across Europe, including London, Salzburg, Munich, Berlin, and Prague. Most recently, in the summer of 2025, Combs served as head coach of Team USA on a 10-day tour of Brazil, leading a Division III All-Star team in games in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
Combs earned his master’s degree from UW-Oshkosh and his bachelor’s degree in business management from Ripon College, where he played point guard under Hall of Fame coach Bob Gillespie.
“I also want to thank the current and former players who trusted me to be their coach over the years,” continued Combs. “They are the heart of this profession and the reason we do it. I’m incredibly grateful to the assistant coaches, staff members, and the many friends of our program who supported our teams and helped build something special over the past 30-plus years. The relationships built through this great game will always mean the most to me.”
UW-Stevens Point Assistant Basketball Coach Paul Combs announces retirement
