Erik Paulsen 'emotional' on Father's Day after UNC baseball win vs Oklahoma in CWS
OMAHA, Neb. — It was Erik Paulsen Jr.’s first Father’s Day without his father.
Following UNC baseball’s 6-2 win vs. Oklahoma in Game 2 of the 2026 College World Series finals, Paulsen needed a moment to cry it out in the dugout as he remembered his coach, mentor and friend.
Erik Paulsen Sr. died at the age of 54 on July 4, 2025, after a battle with cancer. A Long Islander from Massapequa, N.Y., Paulsen Sr. was an NYPD detective who was at the site of the Twin Towers at the World Trade Center on 9/11.
During each of his 68 games in his first season with the Tar Heels, Paulsen Jr. has worn a chain that features his father’s NYPD shield. Paulsen Jr. played his first two seasons at Stony Brook before making the move to Chapel Hill.
“Yeah, my dad always brought me up as a strong kid. I was always around him, around adults when I was really young. It just made me mature really early,” Paulsen said after leading the Tar Heels (54-13-1) with three hits in Game 2 of the CWS finals.
“I kind of lost it in the dugout after the game today, after doing a couple of interviews. I just sat in the dugout and got a little emotional. That’s the first time I’ve broke down in a while. He just raised me to be a strong man. And I just try to carry that out every day.”
UNC coach Scott Forbes was fighting back tears after he was asked about Paulsen’s emotions on Father’s Day and how Paulsen embodies the Tar Heels’ pillars of the program: humility, passion, servanthood, thankfulness and unity.
Paulsen Jr. called Forbes in the early-morning hours after Paulsen Sr.’s death.
“I told him, look, we’ll be here for you. I know I can’t help you by words. I learned going through that with (my wife’s father dying) that the best thing you can do is just be there and learn to listen, have some feel and not ask them every day about it,” Forbes said.
“But my wife was also 30 years old and this kid is just showing up at UNC still in his 20s. To see what he’s done and to see his team embrace him, good night.”
And Forbes recalled when Paulsen Sr. made the trip to Chapel Hill during Paulsen Jr.’s recruiting visit.
“I met his dad, too. And his dad was awesome. I mean, straight NYPD, a bad dude. And he served us. He served our country. He served us 9/11. I know that he’s with Erik. I know he’s watching Erik,” Forbes said.
“And today’s a tough day for a lot of people, and it was a tough day for him. But it was a little less tough, I think, because he knew of his presence. He knew (his father) was with him. And he knows he has a lot of guys in there that are there for him, and it’s okay to get emotional. It’s okay to have some tears.
“But, man, you know, this is why you coach, at the end of the day. You want to help these kids leave here and get through things and have better lives and learn to deal with. Life’s hard. Baseball’s not.
“So I’m just thankful that he’s been in my presence, because, I mean, he’s been way stronger than I would have been probably at that age. I love him like a son. Hopefully he feels that.”
Rodd Baxley covers North Carolina Tar Heels athletics for The Fayetteville Observer as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his ACC coverage on X/Twitter or Bluesky: @RoddBaxley. Got questions regarding UNC? Send them to rbaxley@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Erik Paulsen ’emotional’ on Father’s Day after UNC win vs Oklahoma in CWS
