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Paul Adams (American football coach)

{{Short description|American football player and coach (1936–2019)}}

{{For|the Pittsburgh Steelers player|Paul Adams (center)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox college coach

| name = Paul Adams

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1936|7|10}}

| birth_place = Waukegan, Illinois, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2019|3|14|1936|7|10}}

| death_place = Illinois, U.S.

| alma_mater =

| player_years1 = 1954–1957

| player_team1 = Illinois

| player_positions = Tackle

| coach_years1 = 1961–1966

| coach_team1 = Deerfield HS (IL) (assistant)

| coach_years2 = 1967–1992

| coach_team2 = Deerfield HS (IL)

| overall_record = 220–56

| championships = 1 IHSA (1975)

| awards = Illinois High School Football Hall of Fame (1991)

| coaching_records =

}}

{{Infobox military person

| honorific_prefix = Second Lieutenant

| placeofburial = North Chicago, Illinois

| nickname=

| allegiance = United States

| branch = United States Army

| serviceyears = 1957–1961

| rank = Second Lieutenant

| unit =

| commands =

| battles=

| awards=

| relations=

| laterwork=

| signature=

}}

Paul A. Adams (July 10, 1936 – March 14, 2019) was an American football player and coach. He spent his entire coaching career at Deerfield High School in Deerfield, Illinois. In 1991, he was elected to the Illinois State High School Football Hall of Fame,{{cite web |title=All Hall of Famers |url=https://www.ihsfca.com/page/show/3855730-all-hall-of-famers |website=ihsfca.com |access-date=18 March 2019}} and in 1992, the Waukegan Sports Hall of Fame.{{cite journal |title=Senate Resolution number 1148 |journal=Journal of the Senate of the Eighty Seventh General Assembly of the State of Illinois |page=540}} Upon his retirement, the Chicago Tribune described him as "legendary"{{cite news |last1=Sakamoto |first1=Bob |title=Deerfield's Adams Will Leave Legacy Behind |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 24, 1992 |page=11}} and "king of the north suburbs".{{cite news |last1=Sakamoto |first1=Bob |title='Secrets' of Their Success |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 30, 1992 |pages=19; 22}}

Early life

Adams was born in 1936, in Waukegan, Illinois. He attended and played football at Waukegan High School, and after graduating, attended University of Illinois, where he played football for the Fighting Illini as a tackle and roomed with future Green Bay Packers star Ray Nitschke.{{cite news |last1=Graham |first1=Gordon |title=Graham Crackers |work=The Journal and Courier |date=November 5, 1956|page=22}}{{cite news |last1=Sadin |first1=Steve |title=Paul Adams, legendary Deerfield football coach, dies at 82 |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/deerfield/sports/ct-lns-spt-football-paul-adams-obituary-st-0318-story.html |access-date=18 March 2019 |work=Deerfield Review |agency=Pioneer Press |date=March 17, 2019}} Upon graduating, he served in the United States Army until his discharge in 1961, having attained the rank of Second Lieutenant. He then briefly taught at Highland Park High School, before transferring to Deerfield, where he remained until his retirement.

Coaching career

Adams was initially an assistant coach at Deerfield, under then head coach Doug Kay. He became head coach in 1967 after Kay left to become defensive coordinator at Indiana State University. During Adams' tenure, his teams suffered only one losing season, attained a lifetime record of 220-56, and were Illinois State Champions in 1975. DHS were State runners up in 1977, 1981, and 1984, and appeared in the Class 5A State playoffs a record 15 times.{{cite news |last1=Deardorff |first1=Julie |title=Legendary Takeover |work=Chicago Tribune |date=September 3, 1993 |page=12}} In 1976, he participated in the annual University of Michigan football clinic with then New York Jets coach Lou Holtz and Michigan coach Bo Schembechler.{{cite news |last1=staff |title=U-M Sets Grid Clinic |work=Detroit Free Press |date=April 7, 1976}} Adams and his assistants were noted for their inspiring speeches to their players, and their support for each other during times of crisis; when Adam's mother died in 1986, the entire team attended her funeral.{{cite news |last1=Hoellen |first1=John |title=Deerfield's character undefeated - even by death |work=Chicago Tribune |date=November 14, 1986 |page=9}} In 1987, the Chicago Tribune listed DHS under Adams as the second most successful football team in the Chicago area over the prior ten years, with a record of 93-19.{{cite news |last1=Shnay |first1=Jerry |title=How Some Programs Stay on Top |work=Chicago Tribune |date=August 31, 1987 |pages=8;14}} Over the years, he was frequently noted for his success, and later referred to as "legendary" by multiple publications.{{cite news |last1=Vajdik |first1=Melinda |title=Legendary Coach Paul Adams Cuts Ribbon for New DHS Turf |url=https://patch.com/illinois/deerfield/legendary-coach-paul-adams-cuts-ribbon-for-new-dhs-turf |access-date=18 March 2019 |work=patch.com |date=August 31, 2011}}{{cite news |last1=staff |title=Grayslake (5-4) at Prairie Ridge |work=The Daily Herald |date=August 29, 1997 |page=4}}

Notable players coached

References

{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adams, Paul}}

Category:1936 births

Category:2019 deaths

Category:American football tackles

Category:Coaches of American football from Illinois

Category:High school football coaches in Illinois

Category:Highland Park High School (Illinois) alumni

Category:Illinois Fighting Illini football players

Category:Sportspeople from Waukegan, Illinois

Category:Players of American football from Lake County, Illinois

Category:Sportspeople from Deerfield, Illinois

Category:United States Army officers

Category:Military personnel from Illinois