Article content continued

Paulus, 48, served as head coach of the NAIT Ooks for eight seasons before joining FC Edmonton.

FC Edmonton left the North American Soccer League after the predominately U.S.-based league had its Division 2 status revoked by the United States Soccer Federation.

“I learned a lot, not just from Colin, my first year I had Harry Sinkgraven and Hans Schriver as well and I was their assistant,” Paulus said. “The first thing I learned from them was the individual detail that goes into training and into the season plan.

“When Colin came in, it was just professionalism. Colin was very big on culture and trying to build an identity, just always wanting to be a pro in the way that he talked to people and the way he talked to the media. He always tried to bring a bit of humour day-to-day in the operations of the club. He taught me the football world can be a difficult place. It can sometimes be very demanding, and Colin would often say the game doesn’t care about you, so keep that in mind as you work all the time.”

Paulus will take some of what he learned from the coaches he worked under and mix it with his own style of coaching. He has had success at every level and expects to make FC Edmonton competitive from the onset in the CPL.

“I won’t change. I’ve been the same no matter where I’ve been,” he said. “I love keeping the ball, I like being a team that has the ball and keeps it for the majority of the game. I want to dominate possession. That’s what supporters are going to see is a group of players that are going to enjoy their football, are going to keep the ball.