The Otago under-17 girls team followed his tactical plan to beat Auckland 69-64 in the final at the Lion Foundation Arena.
It was Otago's first national basketball win since the Otago Breakers senior women's team triumphed in 2000.
It was 40 years ago that Paul coached his first Otago team to a national title when the Otago senior women's team won the Gay Cup in Wanganui.
He was reminded of that win when Basketball Otago life member Joyce Johnson hugged him after yesterday's win.
She was chaperone of the Otago team in 1968.
Otago retained its title under Paul the following year in Dunedin.
Paul has taken Otago women's teams to 16 national finals over the past 40 years and this was his ninth win.
He has also coached the New Zealand women's team and mentored players of the calibre of Donna Loffhagen, Suzie Bates and Antonia Edmondson.
Last year, his coaching efforts were recognised by Basketball Otago and Basketball New Zealand with 50 year service awards.
The star player in the Otago win was vice-captain Renee Johnson, who scored 22 points.
It included five three-pointers and her efforts gave Otago the early advantage.
Otago had a smaller team and the plan was to use their superior fitness to run the bigger Auckland girls off the court.
The plan worked as Otago shot to a 22-8 lead in the first quarter.
Otago retained its 14 point advantage in the second quarter, when both sides scored 17 points.
Otago led 39-25.
Otago's form dipped after this as Auckland won the third quarter 18-12.
But the early 14 point buffer still gave Otago an eight point advantage before the last quarter.
"That buffer was enough and we were always in control in the final quarter," Paul said.
The key players in the Otago team were Renee Johnston, who scored 22 points, Zoe Cadzow (14), Samara Gallaher (11), Caroline Crowley (10) and Keiran Mamanu (7).
Paul praised the efforts of his bench.
"It is unusual to have every member of the 12-strong squad capable of contributing to the team," he said.
"The standard of age group basketball is improving in Otago."
Paul travels to Brisbane next week to watch his grand-daughter, Tyla King (10), play in the Queensland under-12 tournament.
He will then have a holiday with daughter Tracey in Mackay.
North Harbour won the boys under-17 final when they beat Wellington 81-68.
Otago finished eleventh when it beat Hutt Valley 101-83 in its final game.
The Otago under-19 boys team was knocked out in the semifinals of the national tournament in Tauranga when it was beaten 66-52 by eventual winner North Harbour.
