HOF Class of 2025: John Paul

(Photo by Dave Adams)

ATLANTA – John Paul enters the MCLA Hall of Fame as an outstanding coach.

The long-time head man at Michigan, Paul is considered to be the face of the modern MCLA. He built the Wolverines up to become the first and only team to win three consecutive national championship from 2008-10. At one point, his teams won 49-consecutive games to set a mark that won’t be touched.

During his run from 1998 through 2011, Paul amassed a 241-44 record in Ann Arbor. After losing to Illinois in the Big Ten Lacrosse League (which morphed into the Central Collegiate Lacrosse League the next year) in ’98, Paul led Michigan to a 103-2 conference record. His teams qualified for the national tournament every year, advancing to the quarterfinals in all but one of them. Over their final four years in the MCLA, the Wolverines went 76-2 with three rings.

Paul played three years for the Wolverines in the pre-MCLA days and was the first Michigan player drafted professionally (Detroit Turbos) despite not having picked up a stick prior to college. He was a long-time MCLA board member and served as the association’s president from 2004-10.

“It's easy to look at Coach Paul’s success in lacrosse – the wins, CCLA conference championships, the three MCLA national championships, and eventual elevation of the program to NCAA status – and judge him on that,” said Michigan All-American and fellow MCLA Hall of Famer Trevor Yealy. “However, it's what most didn't see, behind the scenes, that make Coach Paul a true Michigan Man.

“As I think is the case with many MCLA coaches, Coach Paul volunteered his time to begin coaching the program in the late 90s. As many college coaches in general will attest, whether MCLA or NCAA, getting college kids aligned and rowing in the same direction is no easy task. This is an especially difficult task when you're not being paid, or not being paid well. However, through thick and thin, Coach Paul always put the school, the team and his players, first.

“At no time in my five years at Michigan did I hear him once have a second thought about what his life's work was and what he was building. He approached every day with a sense of purpose and a vision of how he wanted to build a program. He was tough, but fair. He sacrificed both personally and professionally to build something that will ultimately outlast him – the Michigan program – and to unite a group of guys ultimately spanning 60-plus years into a common brotherhood.”

“I'd be remiss if we didn't thank his wife, Lisa, and his daughter, Amelia, for sharing Coach Paul with us. They made a huge sacrifice. If it wasn't for their support, Coach Paul would not have made the impact on so many of our lives as he did, and the Michigan lacrosse program today would not be anywhere near the level that it's at.”

Paul has coached internationally and was one of the six inaugural coaches in the Premier Lacrosse League (PLL).

“The folks I tend to respect most are trailblazers – people who do the things that others only say they wish would happen,” said Inside Lacrosse publisher Terry Foy. “For 30 years, lacrosse fans lamented the lack of the sport’s growth of at the highest levels of Division I. John Paul went out and made it happen. He did what others had only talked about for 30 years.”

Paul, who now calls Bend, Ore., home, is still active in the sport and proud supporter of the MCLA.

“The MCLA played such an important role in my lacrosse path,” Paul said. “It gave me the opportunity to build a career that led to so many experiences, from building championship teams to coaching internationally and at the [NCAA] Division I and professional levels.

“As a board member and then as president, I got to work with other passionate and dedicated volunteers on making the league bigger and better. But most importantly, it provided a structure for me to work with so many amazing student-athletes and coaches. I'm forever grateful for that.

“I'm honored that the MCLA has chosen to add me to an incredible Hall of Fame class. There are so many people who've given so much to make the MCLA what it is today, and I'm proud that I could do my small part.”

The induction for the MCLA Hall of Fame Class of 2025 will take place on Friday, May 9, in Round Rock, Texas. The class will be honored on Saturday in between the title games at the 2025 MCLA National Championships presented by New Balance.

Information about the championships can be found HERE.