Brookdale's Paul Cisek Inducted Into The Upstate New York Basketball Hall Of Fame

Troy, N.Y. - Brookdale Head Men's Basketball Coach, Paul Cisek, was one of 14 members inducted into the Upstate New York Basketball Hall of Fame on Sunday, October 24th, 2021, for its 13th induction ceremony. Hall of Fame founder and executive director, Rene LaRoux, commented, "we recognize players, coaches, writers, and others who have contributed to the basketball community. We don't look at points or scores. Inductions are based on a body of work, the legacy of a good person." 

Coach Cisek, a native of Amsterdam, NY, began his coaching career as a graduate assistant coach at Wagner College in 1988-1989, and with the Monmouth College for the 1987-88 season. Before Monmouth, Cisek coached three years, 1984-1987 at Paul Smith's Junior College in Paul Smith, N.Y., compiling a 62-24 record, where he also served as Director of Student Activities.  He was named Mid-East Region III Coach of the Year in 1986-87. Cisek also served as an assistant coach at Potsdam State University and Oswego State. Cisek graduated from the State University of New York at Oswego. Cisek was also a talented baseball player and played in a premier summer league run by the St. Louis Cardinals.

Cisek is currently in his 31st year as the head coach for Brookdale. He has coached national players of the year, all-americans, all-region and conference players throughout his career. Cisek guided the 2013 team to his first-ever national championship with a 33-1 record that season.

In December of the 2017-2018 season, Cisek cranked out his 500th career win as a Jersey Blue, and notched a second national championship with a first-ever perfect 34-0 season. He is the longest tenured coach in Region XIX which is made up of 32 colleges and has been named National Coach on the Year in 2013, the Gary Cole Coach of the national tournament in 2018, and Region Coach of the Year six times. Cisek has had fourteen 20 plus win seasons, three 30 win seasons, six national tournament appearances, won six region titles, and 10 conference championships.