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Wayne State University Athletics

Paul Winters

Paul Winters

UPDATED January 16, 2023
  • Coached 565 Academic All-GLIAC honorees in his 19 years
  • WSU leader in Coaching Victories (94)
  • Led squad to the 2011 National Championship Game
  • Three-time GLIAC Coach of the Year (2006, 2008 and 2019)
  • Coached 208 All-GLIAC award winners (2004-2022)
  • Mentored 11 GLIAC of-the-Year recipients

Paul Winters concluded his 19th season as the Wayne State University head football coach in November of 2022.

His 2022 team featured 50 GLIAC All-Academic honorees, the third-most in program history, plus senior linebacker Julius Wilkerson, who was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection, the GLIAC McAvoy Award recipient (presented annually to a GLIAC football player who best combines outstanding character and leadership on the field, in the classroom and in the community) as well as the only NCAA Division 2 student-athlete named a national finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman).  In addition, eight student-athletes garnered CSC (College Sports Communicators, formerly CoSIDA) Academic All-District recognition.

During the 2021 season, he mentored First Team All-GLIAC running back Myren Harris and Second Team All-GLIAC running back Kendall Williams.  Harris led the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (114.2), while Williams finished third on the squad in both rushing yards (295) and receiving yards (280).  WSU ranked third in the GLIAC in rushing yards per game (181.5) and fourth in scoring (24.1 points per game).

In addition, WSU had a school record 54 Academic All-GLIAC honorees, including 25 on the Excellence Team for maintaining a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5.  Lane Potter earned his second consecutive CoSIDA Academic All-America recognition in 2021.

Despite not having a playing season during the 2020-21 academic year, student-athletes on the Warrior football program excelled in the classroom as a then school-record 51 earned Academic All-GLIAC accolades.

Wayne State compiled an outstanding 7-1 GLIAC record in 2019 to finish in second place after recording the first victory against Grand Valley State since 1984.  The five-game winning streak to end the season was the longest since the 2016 squad won six straight from Sept. 17 through Oct. 22.  The Warriors won eight of their final nine regular-season games, the best stretch since WSU won 10 of 11 games from Oct. 23, 2010, through Oct. 22, 2011.

Wayne State's strength of schedule was the sixth-toughest according to the NCAA (.611, 66-42), which maintains the records through the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament.  The Warriors ranked in the top-25 nationally in many categories including blocked punts (fifth with 4), blocked kicks (seventh with 7), fewest turnovers lost (10th with 12), kickoff return average (13th at 23.91 yards per return), defensive touchdowns (13th with 4), time of possession (14th at 32:40), punt return defense (15th at 3.57 yards per return), sacks (18th at 3.0 per game), fewest fumbles lost (18th with 5), defensive third-down conversion percentage (21st at 30.6%), red zone defense (23rd at 69.2%) and fewest sacks allowed (24th at 1.18 per game).

Coach Winters was voted GLIAC Coach of the Year by his peers in 2019, while running back Deiontae Nicholas was the GLIAC Offensive Back of the Year, CoSIDA Academic All-District First Team, and Third Team All-Super Region 3 by Hansen's Gazette.  Linebacker Leon Eggleston was selected an All-American by both the AFCA and D2Football.com.

In addition, safety Kyle Toth was a CoSIDA First Team Academic All-American, a GLIAC Commissioner's Award recipient and one of 16 football players to receive All-GLIAC recognition for their on-the-field performance.

The off-the-field performance was equally as impressive with 39 football student-athletes earning GLIAC All-Academic honors, including 18 on the Excellence Team.  In addition, a Division 2-best 10 seniors received membership into the National Football Foundations Hampshire Honor Society.

WSU had 13 All-GLIAC performers during the 2018 campaign, plus Toth became the first CoSIDA Academic All-American since Josh Renel in 2011.  The Warriors had 37 GLIAC All-Academic honorees, while playing the sixth-toughest schedule in all of Division II.  Nine seniors received membership into the Hampshire Honor Society.

During the 2017 campaign, WSU finished 5-6 overall despite losing more than 150 man-games to injury, including numerous All-GLIAC honorees, along with playing the 26th toughest schedule.  The squad produced 36 Academic All-GLIAC recipients.

The Warriors finished fifth nationally in fewest penalties (43), 10th in fewest penalty yards per game (40.09), 15th in time of possession (32:54), 18th in fewest passes had intercepted (6), 19th in fumbles recovered (12), 20th in blocked punts (2), 29th in fewest tackles for loss allowed (4.82 per game), 33rd in fewest sacks allowed (1.36 per game), 37th in both red zone offense (84.8%) and blocked kicks (4), 38th in rushing offense (192.9 yards per game), 40th in kickoff return average (22.03) and 45th in third-down conversions (42.2%).

Winters led the Warriors to their eighth winning campaign in the last nine years in 2016 along with 39 student-athletes receiving Academic All-GLIAC recognition.  In addition, seven seniors received membership into the Hampshire Honor Society.

WSU led the GLIAC and was 13th nationally in fourth-down defense (27.8 percent), while ranking 16th in kickoff return average (24.00 yards per return), which was best in the GLIAC.  The Warriors were sixth nationally (first in the GLIAC) in both red zone defense (61.8 percent) and rushing offense (273.4 yards per game).

His 2015 squad was extremely disciplined ranking fifth in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game (36.18).  The WSU offense ranked 18th nationally in yards per completion (14.83), 21st in red zone offense (86.8%), 33rd in time of possession (31:44) and 43rd in rushing offense (194.0 yards per game).

Sophomore running back Romello Brown was sixth in the nation in rushing touchdowns (19) and 16th in total rushing yards (1,287), while true freshman quarterback D.J. Zezula was 13th in yards per completion (15.01) and Anthony DeDamos led all GLIAC linebackers in tackles for loss (1.5 per game).

Brown was a Second Team All-GLIAC selection as well as WSU's Offensive Most Valuable Player.  Rabeah Beydoun was a GLIAC All-Academic Excellence Team honoree along with being recognized by the National Football Foundation with Hampshire Honor Society accolades.

The previous year, Winters had 26 student-athletes named to the 2014 Academic All-GLIAC teams with 15 players earning All-GLIAC accolades.  His squad was extremely disciplined ranking seventh in the nation in fewest penalties per game (4.45).  In addition, senior linebacker Nores Fradi was voted GLIAC Defensive Back of the Year and a AFCA First Team All-American.

For the 2013 campaign, he had 24 student-athletes named to the Academic All-GLIAC teams with six players earning All-GLIAC accolades.  His squad was extremely disciplined ranking fourth in the nation in fewest penalties per game (3.27) and fifth in penalty yards per game (30.55).

In the 2012 season finale, he equaled the school mark for games coached (101) by a WSU football coach.  He had 26 student-athletes receive Academic All-GLIAC honors along with 11 players being named to the All-GLIAC teams.

After guiding the winningest team in school history in 2011, he was honored for his efforts with the AFCA (American Football Coaches Association) NCAA Division II National Coach of the Year award.

His 2011 squad set the school record for overall wins (12) and road wins (8), while winning four consecutive road playoff games to reach the national title contest.  In addition, senior left tackle Joe Long was the recipient of the Gene Upshaw Award as the top lineman (both offensive and defensive) in Division II.  Senior running back Josh Renel was a First Team CoSIDA Academic All-America selection becoming the first football CoSIDA Academic All-American since 1975.
Paul Winters 1st night game
Senior safety Jeremy Jones along with six other teammates earned All-America accolades for the 2011 season.

The Warriors ranked in the top 40 nationally in eight different categories for the 2011 campaign -- ninth in fewest sacks allowed (0.94 per game), 14th in sacks (3.00 per game), 23rd in scoring offense (34.38 ppg), 26th in passing efficiency (144.02), 33rd in rushing offense (200.56 ypg), 37th in turnover margin (+0.56 per game), 39th in rushing defense (123.31 ypg), and 40th in kickoff returns (21.62 ypr).

In addition to setting the following single-season school records -- rushing yards (3,209), rushing attempts (699), rushing TDs (43), passing efficiency rating (144.0), average yards per pass attempt (8.4), total offense (6,083), all-purpose yards (7,880), points (550), total TDs (74), extra points (70), kickoff returns for a touchdown (3), interception return yards (401), tackles for loss (109/84 solo + 50 asst.), quarterback sacks (48.0/40 solo + 16 asst.) and pass break-ups (54) -- Wayne State also became the first NCAA Division II school to play 16 games in a season.

Winters became the school’s all-time football wins leader when the Warriors recorded a double-overtime victory at Hillsdale on Oct. 22, 2011.

The 2011 senior class compiled a 35-14 mark surpassing the previous wins mark of 30 by the 1978 class.  In addition, 30 members of the 2011 national finalist squad received conference all-academic accolades.

Paul Winters

In 2010, WSU set then school records for overall wins (9), conference wins (8), points in a season (347), passing completion percentage (59.9%), and yards per pass attempt (7.67), while tying the institutional mark for touchdowns in a season (45).

All these accomplishments plus a 12th-place ranking in the final regular-season AFCA national poll earned Winters the AFCA Division II Regional Coach of the Year award.

His 2010 offense ranked 30th nationally in rushing (194.73 yards per game), 45th in scoring (31.55 points per game), 46th in passing efficiency (135.41) and 59th in total offense (381.00 yards per game).

Jones became the first WSU defensive player to earn First Team All-America honors in school history following the 2010 campaign.

The three-time GLIAC Coach of the Year (2006, 2008 and 2019), Winters led the Warriors to four consecutive winning seasons (2008-11) for the first time since 1974-78.

In addition, senior running back Joique Bell was selected as the NCAA Division II Player of the Year (Harlon Hill Trophy), played in the Senior Bowl and participated in the NFL Combine in Indianapolis after rushing for 29 touchdowns and 2,084 yards in 2009.  Bell played 75 NFL regular-season games (2010-16) finishing with 2,241 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, along with 1,638 receiving yards.

Winters’ 2008 squad became the first team in school history to be ranked in the AFCA poll.  Earlier that year, he was one of 28 coaches nationally selected to participate in the 2008 NCAA Expert Coaches Academy.

Winters became the first WSU football coach to earn GLIAC Coach of the Year honors since Dick Lowry in 1975 following a successful 2006 campaign in which the Warriors ranked 10th nationally in kickoff returns, and 13th in both rushing offense and punt return defense. WSU was also ranked regionally until the final poll.

In 2006, Bell eclipsed the NCAA Division II freshman rushing record by gaining 2,065 yards and became the first WSU player named to the AFCA All-America squad since the AFCA began selecting All-America teams in 1945. Bell and David Chudzinski were also named to the AP Little, D2Football.com and Daktronics All-America squads and were joined by Derrion Fuqua on the Hansen’s Gazette All-America team.

After helping the Warriors improve five places in the GLIAC standings from 2004 to 2005, WSU improved another four places in 2006 and recorded the first winning season in more than a decade.

In his 16 years at WSU, Winters has coached 17 Academic All-District honorees, 65 All-Region selections and 185 All-GLIAC award winners, plus 11 GLIAC of-the-Year recipients and 410 GLIAC All-Academic honorees.

Winters was hired as the school’s 19th football coach by WSU Director of Athletics Rob Fournier on December 17, 2003, after serving on the staff at the University of Akron the previous nine years.

Prior to his appointment at WSU, Winters was listed as one of the top 10 African-American head coaching candidates in the nation by the Black Coaches Association.

After the 2000 season, and for the second time, Winters was nominated for the Broyles Award, a national honor recognizing the nation’s top Division I-A assistant coach. In addition, he was chosen Assistant Coach of the Year by the Northeastern Ohio Chapter of the National Football Foundation from among 13 universities and colleges in the region.

Before returning to Akron following the 1994 campaign, Winters was an assistant football coach at the University of Wisconsin for two seasons (1990-91). Prior to UW, he was on the coaching staff at the University of Toledo for four seasons (1986-89).

In his previous stint on the Akron coaching staff, Winters served on Jim Dennison’s staff as offensive backfield coach for two seasons after being a graduate assistant for the 1982 and 1983 campaigns.

Winters was inducted into the UA Athletic Hall of Fame on Feb. 2, 1990. He earned a bachelor of science degree in industrial management in 1980 and a M.S. degree in education in 1984.

The seventh all-time leading rusher in school history, he rushed for 2,613 yards during his Zips career and was named 1980 UA Athlete of the Year. Winters was a three-time letterman and a three-time recipient of the Harry “Doc” Smith Award as the outstanding player in his class. In 1979, Winters was selected as the Zips’ offensive MVP. He was a prep star at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary.

A former member of the AFCA Division II Board of Coaches, Winters served on the NCAA Regional Ranking Committee as well as the NCAA Rules Committee.  Winters is entering his fifth year on the AFCA Board of Trustees after being selected in January of 2017.

Winters has four children, Christian, Monica, Melanie and Natalie and is married to the former Mya Hill.


 
PAUL WINTERS' WSU COACHING RECORD
Year Games Wins Losses Pct. GLIAC Wins GLIAC Losses GLIAC Finish
2004 10 1 9 .100 1 9 13th
2005* 10 3 7 .300 3 7 T-8th
2006 11 6 5 .545 6 4 T-4th
2007 11 3 8 .273 2 8 12th
2008 11 8 3 .727 7 3 T-3rd
2009 11 6 5 .545 5 5 8th
2010& 11 9 2 .818 8 2 T-2nd
2011# 16 12 4 .750 7 3 2nd/South
2012 10 5 5 .500 5 5 6th/North
2013 11 3 8 .273 3 7 T-6th/North
2014 11 7 4 .636 6 4 T-3rd/North
2015 11 6 5 .545 5 5 T-6th/Overall
2016 11 7 4 .636 7 4 T-5th/Overall
2017 11 5 6 .455 4 5 6th/Overall
2018 11 2 9 .182 1 7 T-8th/Overall
2019 11 8 3 .727 7 1 2nd/Overall
2021 11 2 9 .182 2 5 T-5th/Overall
2022 10 1 9 .100 0 6 7th/Overall
Career 199 94 105 .472 79 90 ---

#-National Runners-Up

*-Does not include forfeit by Saginaw Valley.

&-GLIAC South Division champions (defeated Hillsdale head-to-head)

PAUL WINTERS' BACKGROUND
School Position Years
Wayne State University Head Coach 2004-2022
University of Akron Running Backs Coach/Offensive Coordinator 1995-2003
University of Wisconsin Compliance Coordinator 1992-1994
University of Wisconsin Tight Ends Coach 1991
University of Wisconsin Running Backs Coach 1990
University of Toledo Offensive Backs Coach 1986-1989
University of Akron Backfield Coach 1984-1985
University of Akron Graduate Assistant Coach 1982-1983
University of Akron Running Back 1976-1979