Women's Basketball Head Coach (11th Season; 152-113)
Walter Paschal is in his 11th season as the head coach of the Fitchburg State women's basketball team. Throughout his tenture, he has compiled an overall record 152-113.
Last season, Paschal led Fitchburg state to a second place showing in the highly regarded MASCAC Conference, posting an overall record of 16-10 and a 9-3 mark in league play. The Falcons advanced to the semi-final round of the conference tournament, while naming two-players to the MASCAC All-Conference first and second teams.
During a successful 2007-08 campaign, Fitchburg State boasted an overall record of 20-9 and a 9-3 clip in the MASCAC. The Falcons worked their way to an ECAC New England Tournament Finals berth while having three players earning MASCAC post-season honors.
The 2006-07 season marked a pivotal year for Paschal as he led Fitchburg State to a MASCAC regular season championship and MASCAC Tournament title. The Falcons advanced to their first-ever NCAA Tournament game vs. Norwich University, setting several program records on their way. Fitchburg State registered a 26-3 record, the most wins in program history, while setting the program's longest winning streak (22). For his efforts, Paschal was named the MASCAC Coach of the Year for the second time in his tenure. In addition, Paschal was also named the D3Hoops.com Northeast Coach of the Year and Women's Basketball Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year.
Prior to his arrival at Fitchburg State, Paschal served as an assistant coach at Framingham State for two seasons and Emerson for a year. He also crafted his trade at the high school level where he was the assistant varsity coach at Newton North.
Paschal, a Bridgewater State graduate, teaches adaptive physical
education at the Learning Prep School in West Newton. He
currently resides in Holden, Mass. with
his daughter, Abby (5) and son, Logan (3).
Barry Call is in his first season as an assistant coach of the Fitchburg State women's basketball team.
Call brings over 28 years of coaching experience to the Fitchburg State organization, including 15 years as a junior varsity and varsity assistant at North Middlesex Regional High School. Call also served as girls' head coach at Mascenic Regional High School in New Ipswich, N.H.
In addition to his experience at the high school level, Call has been actively involved with the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU), coaching with the Central Mass Cougars and North Central Blaze organizations. During his 1996 season, Call led his team to the AAU National Tournament in Nashville, Tenn.
Call has also been an active staff member at many basketball camps in Central Massachusetts and is currenlty a certified basketball official with Board 44 in Fitchburg, Mass.
Call, a graduate of Fitchburg State College, also
received his Master's degree from Rivier College. He
served as a middle school math teacher for 34 years in
the Wachusett Regional School District. He currently resides
in Fitchburg, Mass. with his with Cheralyn. Call has three
children Kristen, Brian, and Michael and enjoys his six
grandchildren, Wesley (9), Eliza (7), Oliver (3), Aiden (2), Zoe (2
months), and Adeline (1 month).
Sara Ellison is in her second season as an assistant coach of the Fitchburg State women's basketball team.
Ellison brings a wealth of coaching experience to Fitchburg State after serving as an assistant coach at Lawrence University and Keuka College. In 2006, Ellison helped coach the Keuka Storm to an 18-8 record overall and a 14-2 mark in the NEAC. While at Keuka, Ellison also served as the Director of Intramurals and the Assistant Women's Lacrosse coach.
Prior to Keuka, Ellison served as an Assistant Coach at Mount Hollyoke College. During her two-year tenure, Ellison led the instruction of all post-player drills, including fundamentals, break-down drills, and game strategies.
Ellison is a 2001 graduate of Connecticut College where she
earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology. She received her Masters
of Science in Exercise and Sport Studies from Smith College in
2006.
