1980: Ken Nieman
1981: Ken Neiman
1982: Ken Nieman
1983: Ken Nieman
1984: Ken Nieman
1985: Ken Nieman
1986: Ken Nieman
1987: Ron Vanderhooft
1988: Ron Vanderhooft
1989:
1980:
1982:
The 1980s start with a greater optimism for the future of basketball at the school. The Varsity team entered the Fort Garry Invitational Tournament (FGIT), considered the most prestigious pre-season basketball tournament in Manitoba at the time. In the program for that year, Coach Ken Nieman wrote, "This will be St. Paul's first time in FGIT. The Crusaders have improved over the years and now feel ready to take on the top teams in the province. Last year the Crusaders finished first in league play with a 6-1 record in the tough St. James-Assiniboia Conference."
This optimism continued to grow as St. Paul's teams fought tobe competitive against the best teams in the province. The 1982 season saw St. Paul's in the final four in the provincial play-offs. In the 1984 yearbook coach Ken Nieman wrote, "Dynamic is one way to describe this year's Varsity Team. We rode the top 10 all season...As well, we won every one of the 4 tournaments we attended including Montreal with MVP's in both tournaments that had them. We finished 8th in the Province." He ended by saying, "This has been the best record ever at St. Paul's due to the great effort of a great bunch of players, parents and teachers.
St. Paul's High School also started having two grade 9 basketball teams in the 1980s. This extra practice and experience helped St. Paul's move to a high level of achievement with the Freshman and Varsity teams.