Men's Basketball
Fortier, Paul
Paul Fortier
- Title:
- Assistant Men's Basketball Coach
- Email:
- prf28@drexel.edu
- Phone:
- 215-895-1781
Paul Fortier was named to Zach Spiker’s staff in April of 2016. He had previously been the associate head coach at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. In his coaching career, Fortier has recruited or coached 10 players who have played in the NBA. Fortier helped lead the Dragons to their first-ever Colonial Athletic Association title and a return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in a quarter century. Fortier has now been on staff of six teams that have made the NCAA Tournament.
On the court, Fortier works primarily with Drexel's big men. Under his watch, Amari Williams emerged as one of the top big men in the conference. Williams was named the CAA's Defensive Player of the Year three straight seasons, the first player in CAA history to do that. He was a First Team All-CAA selection in 2023 and 2024 after being named Third Team the previous year. Williams was a second round pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft. Fortier also aided in the development of James Butler, who was one of the top rebounders in school history. Butler was a two-time All-CAA pick and finished the 2020 season fifth in the nation in double-doubles and rebounding. Fortier was also instrumental in the development of Austin Williams, who was named to the CAA's All-Defensive team his senior season. The Dragons led the CAA in field-goal percentage and also led the league in rebounding margin. Fortier is also responsible for recruiting as well as scouting for the Dragons.
Fortier worked under Joe Callero for three seasons at Cal Poly. His main duties included strengthening recruiting and improved the team’s frontcourt presence. For two of his three seasons, the Mustangs led the nine-school, Big West Conference with the fewest points allowed per game. From his first season in 2013-14 to his final year in 2015-16, the Mustangs consistently improved in rebounding and blocked shot metrics. Cal Poly won its first Big West Conference championships and a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2014. The Mustangs defeated Texas Southern in the First Four for the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. In 2014-15 under Fortier’s tutelage, forward Brian Bennett earned All-Big West honors, while forward Joel Awich ranked fifth among Big West players with 1.3 blocks per game.
Prior to his stay in San Luis Obispo, Fortier spent eight seasons on Lorenzo Romar’s staff at the University of Washington, his alma mater. Fortier worked with the Huskies’ frontcourt players and helped produce first-round NBA draft selections Terrence Ross (eighth overall in 2010), Spencer Hawes (10th in 2007), Quincy Pondexter (26th in 2010) and C.J. Wilcox (28th in 2014). The Huskies made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the Sweet 16, and had three 25-plus wins season during Fortier’s tenure as an assistant. Before returning to Washington, Fortier served as an assistant coach at Cornell from 2003-05 under Steve Donahue. He was an assistant with Spiker on that staff.
Fortier was a standout player at Washington from 1982-1986, where he scored 1,326 career points. His teams went to three NCAA Tournaments and won two Pac-10 championships. An All-Pac 10 selection as a senior after averaging 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds, Fortier was drafted in 1986 by the Washington Bullets in the fifth round. He went on to play professionally in Europe for 17 seasons before getting into coaching. He spent the majority of his career in France, but also played in Spain, Greece and Italy.
A native of San Francisco, Fortier attended St. Ignatius College Prep. He averaged 20 points and 11.5 rebounds per game during his senior year. Fortier was an All-Northern California selection and was an Honorable Mention All-America. In May 2014, Fortier was inducted into the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame.
Fortier, who graduated from Washington with a psychology degree, and his wife, Elizabeth, have two daughters, Kassia and Marissa.
On the court, Fortier works primarily with Drexel's big men. Under his watch, Amari Williams emerged as one of the top big men in the conference. Williams was named the CAA's Defensive Player of the Year three straight seasons, the first player in CAA history to do that. He was a First Team All-CAA selection in 2023 and 2024 after being named Third Team the previous year. Williams was a second round pick by the Boston Celtics in the 2025 NBA Draft. Fortier also aided in the development of James Butler, who was one of the top rebounders in school history. Butler was a two-time All-CAA pick and finished the 2020 season fifth in the nation in double-doubles and rebounding. Fortier was also instrumental in the development of Austin Williams, who was named to the CAA's All-Defensive team his senior season. The Dragons led the CAA in field-goal percentage and also led the league in rebounding margin. Fortier is also responsible for recruiting as well as scouting for the Dragons.
Fortier worked under Joe Callero for three seasons at Cal Poly. His main duties included strengthening recruiting and improved the team’s frontcourt presence. For two of his three seasons, the Mustangs led the nine-school, Big West Conference with the fewest points allowed per game. From his first season in 2013-14 to his final year in 2015-16, the Mustangs consistently improved in rebounding and blocked shot metrics. Cal Poly won its first Big West Conference championships and a bid to the NCAA Tournament in 2014. The Mustangs defeated Texas Southern in the First Four for the school’s first-ever NCAA Tournament victory. In 2014-15 under Fortier’s tutelage, forward Brian Bennett earned All-Big West honors, while forward Joel Awich ranked fifth among Big West players with 1.3 blocks per game.
Prior to his stay in San Luis Obispo, Fortier spent eight seasons on Lorenzo Romar’s staff at the University of Washington, his alma mater. Fortier worked with the Huskies’ frontcourt players and helped produce first-round NBA draft selections Terrence Ross (eighth overall in 2010), Spencer Hawes (10th in 2007), Quincy Pondexter (26th in 2010) and C.J. Wilcox (28th in 2014). The Huskies made four NCAA Tournament appearances, including two trips to the Sweet 16, and had three 25-plus wins season during Fortier’s tenure as an assistant. Before returning to Washington, Fortier served as an assistant coach at Cornell from 2003-05 under Steve Donahue. He was an assistant with Spiker on that staff.
Fortier was a standout player at Washington from 1982-1986, where he scored 1,326 career points. His teams went to three NCAA Tournaments and won two Pac-10 championships. An All-Pac 10 selection as a senior after averaging 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds, Fortier was drafted in 1986 by the Washington Bullets in the fifth round. He went on to play professionally in Europe for 17 seasons before getting into coaching. He spent the majority of his career in France, but also played in Spain, Greece and Italy.
A native of San Francisco, Fortier attended St. Ignatius College Prep. He averaged 20 points and 11.5 rebounds per game during his senior year. Fortier was an All-Northern California selection and was an Honorable Mention All-America. In May 2014, Fortier was inducted into the San Francisco Prep Hall of Fame.
Fortier, who graduated from Washington with a psychology degree, and his wife, Elizabeth, have two daughters, Kassia and Marissa.
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