Former C-M standout Paulina resettles at Waynesburg
Before being named Interim Head Football Coach at Waynesburg University in early May, Chris Smithley had goals as an offensive coordinator he wanted, and needed, to address.
High on Smithley’s offseason checklist was taking the group he was responsible for last year and creating more of an identity, especially on the offensive line.
“We made some goals in the recruiting process and knew that developing a new culture on the offensive line was important for our future,” he said. “That’s been a goal we’ve had for a long time.”
Smithley was 100 percent committed to bolstering a rushing attack that only averaged 77.4 yards per game, lowest in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference.
When 6-3, 315-pound lineman Alex Paulina reached out to Waynesburg defensive coordinator Scott Venick about coming, it was a giant leap in the right direction.
Paulina, a former four-year starter at Canon-McMillan, was looking to transfer after spending two years – one as a redshirt freshman and the other on the practice squad – in the Pitt football program.
“From all the conversations I’ve had with him, he didn’t leave on bad terms with Pitt,” Smithley said. “It just wasn’t the atmosphere he was looking for.”
Smithley said what Paulina was looking for was the best opportunity to eventually live out his dream of becoming a state police officer.
Waynesburg’s criminal justice program was apparently that answer, as Paulina and his new teammates will report to camp Friday morning in hopes of putting a forgettable season behind them.
The Yellow Jackets finished 10th in total offense with 310 yards per game, last in rushing offense with only 774 yards and only seven touchdowns, the only team in the PAC to fail to reach double digits.
However, Paulina’s experience at Pitt will pay dividends.
“There is no question it’s a benefit that he has been around guys that can play some football,” Smithley said. “He had some time as the center on the scout team, and I would love to see him snap the football because we are lacking the center role. But he is going to have to earn it. Just because he transferred doesn’t mean we put a position aside for him. It’s about how easily he picks up the offense and adjusts to the way we do things.”
Paulina has three years of eligibility remaining but will only use two before graduating.
“He’s extremely humble,” Smithley said. “He just wants to play some football and have some fun. He is going to see guys at our level that are going to give him everything he can handle. It’s different from a speed standpoint but there are really good players in Division III football.”
“We exceeded our goals in my mind in recruiting the offensive line. There is no question about that.”