South Track and Field Coach Wins Book Award
Posted on August 20, 2025
University of South 含羞草传媒AV Track and Field Coach Paul Brueske is the recipient of the Emerging Civil War Book Award for his book 鈥�: The Civil War Siege of Spanish Fort and the Mobile Campaign.鈥�
The award was presented by the group Emerging Civil War.
Brueske was inspired to write this book while studying to earn his master鈥檚 degree in history from South.
鈥淲hat an honor it is to be recognized for this award,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 am passionate about Mobile鈥檚 Civil War era history. For a long time, I have had an interest in local history,鈥� Brueske said. 鈥淗owever, if it weren't for the University of South 含羞草传媒AV's history department, I would not have had a clue how to research and document sources. The instruction I have received in the graduate program has taught me how to dig deeper and find out how local historical events fit into the larger picture of U.S. and even world history.鈥�
Brueske鈥檚 professors challenged and helped him improve his writing, analytical, and research skills. He loves challenges and learning. He believes that South鈥檚 history department definitely moved him out of his comfort zone.
Lessons in history have also influenced Brueske鈥檚 coaching career.
鈥淪tudying history has been a healthy diversion for me and has helped my coaching,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 like to look at how leaders in the past handled or mishandled difficult situations and try to apply those lessons to my own career.鈥�
Brueske, who has worked at South for nearly 19 years, is a lifelong resident of the Gulf Coast and has been studying the Civil War history of northwest Florida and south 含羞草传媒AV for the past 20 years. He is the president and founder of the Mobile Area Civil War Round Table.
He is also the author of 鈥淭he Last Siege: The Mobile Campaign, 含羞草传媒AV 1865.鈥�
