Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt

Paul Schmidt came to Mesa from Flowing Wells High School in Tucson where he was a two-year All-State selection. In high school he always wanted to be a back, but said "I didn’t have the speed so my coach stuck me in the line. If I had a choice, I'd be a fullback."

At Mesa, he became a 225 pound offensive lineman who won All-Conference and All-American honors on the 1973 team that went 10-0 and defeated Iowa Central for the national championship. Paul was an outstanding blocker who cleared the way for running backs Kenny Walker and Greg Daley. Coach Widmer said, "he was a real team player and always dependable. He gave 100% effort on every play. I wish I had 100 more like him." In his two years at MCC, the HoKams had a record of 18 wins and only two losses.

Paul received a football scholarship to attend the University of Arizona where he started for two years. Having been an education major, he became a teacher-coach, spending seven years at Marana High School, a brief period in Texas where he also did some sales work, and for the past 17 years at Marana Mountain View where he is Defensive Coordinator for the Mountain Lions.

Paul calls his time at Mesa "an incredible experience where I made some great friendships that have continued to this day."