Paul Hoffman, St. Bonaventure legend, dead at 74

By Ray Floriani (@rfloriani)

No matter the circumstance, the news always hits hard.

The word came out in late July that Paul Hoffman passed away at the age of 74. His health had not been optimum in recent years. Still, he seemed to battle every setback until the tragic end.

His exploits on the hardwood included scoring 2,209 points, second at the time in Pennsylvania state history to one Wilt Chamberlain. During his career at St. Gabriel’s in Hazleton, his team won state championships in Hoffman’s sophomore and junior years (1966 and 1967), with only a late-season injury in his senior year preventing a three-peat.

Wearing his seemingly signature eyeglasses throughout his basketball career, the 6’2” Hoffman could play any position at St. Gabriel’s. Whether it was shooting and ball handling at the guard spot, rebounding, strength and jumping ability for the three through five positions, whatever the team needed, Hoffman could fill the bill with excellence.

In his excellent book, Trumpet Call to Victory, Joe Farley, a teammate of Hoffman’s at St. Gabriel’s, chronicled the school’s final years before closing in 1970. Farley told the story of St. Gabriel’s playing for what would be its final game and state championship in March of 1970. On the afternoon of their game, the G-Men gathered in their hotel and watched Hoffman and the Bonnies defeat Villanova to advance to the Final Four. As inspiration from one of their own, St. Gabriel’s went out to score an upset victory and claim the title.

Widely recruited, Hoffman chose St. Bonaventure. Farley believes his catholic school background played a big part in the decision.

Hoffman starred for the Bonnies from 1970 through 1972. Back then, freshmen were not eligible to play varsity basketball, limiting Hoffman to just three seasons in Olean. During his three-year career, he scored 1,103 points. The true measure of who he was went beyond the numbers in the scorebook.

Going into my freshman year at St. Bonaventure, late summer of 1970, arriving on campus, a number of fellow classmates felt Hoffman would be big man on campus. After all, he was a starting guard as a sophomore on a Final Four team, a team Hoffman always believed would have won the national championship had Bob Lanier not been hurt in the East Regionals.

Hoffman was perceived as a prototypical BMOC until you met him, a relentless competitor on the court, yet soft spoken, very humble and friendly.

In the fall, I was about a week into a dream job as a basketball manager. On a Saturday morning, I was having brunch in the dining hall sitting alone. A few minutes later while being served, Hoffman saw I was alone and then joined me. That simple gesture spoke volumes about the type of person he was.

During that 1970-71 campaign, Fordham was enjoying an outstanding season, cracking the national rankings. Frequently, Hoffman would remind us after practice that Digger Phelps, the Ram mentor, was his high school coach. Yes, the venerable Phelps coached at St. Gabriel's and won a state championship during Hoffman’s sophomore year before moving on and joining the college ranks.

The 1970-71 season stands out prominently, and in respects, painfully, in the memories of Bona faithful. The team earned a bid in the then-16-team National Invitation Tournament. Purdue and Hawaii were dispatched in the early rounds, then came a Georgia Tech team the Bonnies edged to win the Gator Bowl Tournament in December. The game at a packed Madison Square Garden was close and intense.

Tie score, last play of the first overtime, Hoffman was fouled going to the basket. Two free throw attempts to send the Bonnies to the final against North Carolina.

Shooting in front of a hushed Bona crowd, Hoffman missed both. In the second overtime, Georgia Tech pulled away to seal the 76-71 victory. Postgame, when the locker room was opened to the media, reporters besieged Hoffman for interviews. He answered every question patiently, thoroughly and respectfully. Two days later, there was another game. The Bonnies scored an overtime victory over Duke to capture third place in the NIT. For years, Hoffman would say, “I finished 1-0 in my career against Duke.”

Fast forward five decades later, and Kyle Lofton missed two free throws for the Bonnies in the last second of an Atlantic 10 tournament quarterfinal against Saint Louis. Lofton, like Hoffman in his day, was a key backcourt standout. In a USA Today article by Erik Brady, Hoffman thoroughly reflected on his situation and how he got another chance, another game, and hoped Lofton would get the same. Lofton got that chance, ironically in the NIT. He helped lead the Bonnies to the NIT Final Four back at Madison Square Garden.

The Final Four NCAA appearance can be considered the pinnacle of one’s college career. Interestingly, Hoffman enjoyed the NIT experience, playing at Madison Square Garden. In his senior year of 1971-72, the Bonnies narrowly missed out on a bid. It was a major disappointment, especially for Hoffman, who respected the prestige and experience afforded playing in the nation’s oldest post season tournament as a junior.

Hoffman was drafted following college, but a pro basketball career was not in the offing. Instead, he moved on to a long teaching and coaching career in the Genesee Valley (NY) school system. He taught social studies and coached boys and girls basketball, boys’ soccer and girls’ volleyball. Over the years during and just after his teaching career, Hoffman often frequented Reilly Center to take in a Bonaventure game.

Hoffman played when St. Bonaventure was known as the Brown Indians, complete with a student dressing up as an Indian mascot. Through the years, in his heart, the nickname of his alma mater was the Brown Indians. It’s cruel, but common in our sporting world.

For all the great things he did in a Bona uniform, the mention of Hoffman’s name invariably brings a memory of that last Thursday evening in March of 1971. Not to be forgotten is the fact he was an outstanding player for three years, and a well-deserved selection for the St. Bonaventure Hall of Fame in 1999. He was not only a great player but a great teammate as well.

A leader by example, Hoffie could be vocal if need be. In January of 1972, his senior year, the team was in a slump and hosting rival Niagara. Before coach Larry Weise came in to address the team, there was complete silence in the locker room. Hoffman broke the silence by standing up and giving his own pregame talk. He felt Niagara might be coming in complacent and the Bonnies had to defend their home court, get out there and show what the team was made of. In a hotly contested game, the Bonnies rallied late to secure a 76-73 victory. To little surprise, it was Hoffman who sealed that verdict by dribbling and eluding Niagara defenders over the last thirty seconds to run out the clock. That was Paul Hoffman, the competitor, doing whatever it took to help the team and win. If you had a team of your own, you would be fortunate and blessed to send five Paul Hoffmans on the floor.

Despite latter year illnesses, the ending for Hoffman and his friends and family seemed so sudden. The saying goes, tomorrow is promised to no one. What we do maintain is the memories.

Paul Hoffman was simply one who was respected, revered and fondly remembered by all who were fortunate to know him. One who made an indelible mark on and off the floor, No. 20 will always have a place in our hearts.