Paul Hogan honored with sports community award

MANCHESTER — NHTI Lynx Athletic Director Paul Hogan was honored by the New Hampshire Union Leader’s Board of Judges as the second recipient of the James W. Desmarais Award, given to a New Hampshire resident deserving special recognition who has dedicated his or her life to helping others achieve their goals in the sports community at any level.

Hogan has worked with summer youth basketball camps for over 35 years, and has been a coach and administrator at the middle school, high school and college levels. He worked at the middle school and high school in Laconia as a teacher and coach of basketball and baseball, then at Plymouth State College, and finally NHTI, where he now serves as athletic director and head basketball coach.

“From the time I met him, back in the 80s at Woodland Heights School in Laconia, Paul has been a positive force for young people. His relentless pursuit of developing programs and opportunities has been contagious throughout New Hampshire,” said former superintendent of schools in Laconia Bob Champlin. “His legacy includes the incredible number of people he has mentored and how he has helped them achieve their dreams and aspirations. He is a model for shared leadership and collaboration using sports as his platform,” added Champlin. 

“It is very fitting for Paul Hogan to be the first recipient of the New Hampshire Union Leader James W. Desmarais Special Recognition Award, other than Jim Desmarais,” said Peter Cofran of Newfound School District, a judge on the board for the award. 

Jim Desmarais became the principal at Plymouth High School during Hogan's senior year, and continued to be a mentor and friend over the years, helping Hogan with career and professional decisions. 

Hogan has been active with different groups, including the New Hampshire Athletic Directors, Alhambra Basketball Classic, the NHIAA, sport officiating and coaching associations.

Hogan has contacts around the country, giving his students access to internship experiences. He serves as the advisor for the sports management program club and department. Hogan also serves as an adjunct professor for Plymouth State and other New England colleges.