| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1937-08-21)August 21, 1937 Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | October 9, 2017(2017-10-09) (aged 80) Mesa, Arizona, U.S. |
| Playing career | |
| 1955–1958 | Arizona State |
| Position(s) | Tackle |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1959 | Camelback HS (AZ) (assistant) |
| 1960–1963 | Tempe HS (AZ) (assistant) |
| 1964–1966 | Tempe HS (AZ) |
| 1967–1969 | Mesa (AZ) (assistant) |
| 1970–1980 | Mesa (AZ) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 86–19–3 (junior college) |
| Bowls | 3–1 (junior college) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Championships | |
| 2 NJCAA National (1973, 1975) 5 AJCAC/ACCAC (1970, 1973–1976) | |
Paul Francis Widmer Jr. (August 21, 1937 – October 9, 2017) was an American football coach. He served at the head football coach at Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona from 1970 to 1980, compiling a record of 86–19–3, and leading his team to two NJCAA National Football Championships, in 1973 and 1975.
Widmer played college football at Arizona State University from 1955 to 1958 under head coach Dan Devine and Frank Kush. He began his coaching career in 1959 as an assistant at Camelback High School in Phoenix, Arizona. The following yearl he moved to Tempe High School in Tempe, Arizona, where he was an assistant coach for four years before being promoted to head football coach. Widmer joined the coaching staff of the newly opened Mesa Community College as an assisant in 1967 under head coach Mutt Ford. He succeeded Ford as head coach in 1970. Widmer resigned from his post at Mesa after the 1980 season and was succeeded by assistant coach, Allen Benedict.
Widmer died on October 9, 2017, in Mesa.
Head coaching record
Junior college
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Hokams/Thunderbirds (Arizona Junior College Athletic Conference / Arizona Community College Athletic Conference) (1970–1980) | |||||||||
| 1970 | Mesa | 10–1 | 4–0 | 1st | L Shrine Bowl | ||||
| 1971 | Mesa | 7–2 | 2–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1972 | Mesa | 8–2 | 2–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1973 | Mesa | 10–0 | 5–0 | 1st | W El Toro Bowl | ||||
| 1974 | Mesa | 9–1 | 4–1 | 1st | W Wool Bowl | ||||
| 1975 | Mesa | 9–0 | 5–0 | 1st | |||||
| 1976 | Mesa | 9–1–1 | 4–0–1 | 1st | W Wool Bowl | ||||
| 1977 | Mesa | 7–1–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1978 | Mesa | 7–3 | 3–2 | 3rd | |||||
| 1979 | Mesa | 7–3 | 3–2 | T–2nd | |||||
| 1980 | Mesa | 3–5–1 | 2–3 | 4th | |||||
| Mesa: | 86–19–3 | 38–13–1 | |||||||
| Total: | 86–19–3 | ||||||||
| National championship Conference title Conference division title or championship game berth | |||||||||
References
- "New Prep Grid Coach". Arizona Daily Star. Tucson, Arizona. Associated Press. May 11, 1967. p. D2. Retrieved June 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com
.
- "Widmer given position as MCC football head". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. May 10, 1970. p. 10D. Retrieved June 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
- Nightengale, Bob (December 25, 1980). "Needing change, Widmer resigns as MCC coach". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. Extra 9. Retrieved June 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
- Nightengale, Bob (December 25, 1980). "Widmer (continued)". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. p. Extra 10. Retrieved June 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
- "Widmer, Paul F. Jr". Arizona Republic. Phoenix, Arizona. October 22, 2017. p. 10E. Retrieved June 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .
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- 1937 births
- 2017 deaths
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- Arizona State Sun Devils football players
- Mesa Thunderbirds football coaches
- High school football coaches in Arizona
- People from Harrison Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Players of American football from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
- Coaches of American football from Pennsylvania
- College football coaches first appointed in the 1970s stubs