Paul Widmer

{{short description|American football coach (1937–2017)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}} {{Infobox college coach | name = Joe Kersting | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1937|8|21}} | birth_place = Natrona Heights, Pennsylvania, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2017|10|9|1937|8|21}} | death_place = Mesa, Arizona, U.S. | alma_mater = | player_years1 = 1955–1958 | player_team1 = Arizona State | player_positions = Tackle | coach_years1 = 1959 | coach_team1 = Camelback HS (AZ) (assistant) | coach_years2 = 1960–1963 | coach_team2 = Tempe HS (AZ) (assistant) | coach_years3 = 1964–1966 | coach_team3 = Tempe HS (AZ) | coach_years4 = 1967–1969 | coach_team4 = Mesa (AZ) (assistant) | coach_years5 = 1970–1980 | coach_team5 = Mesa (AZ) | overall_record = 86–19–3 (junior college) | bowl_record = 3–1 (junior college) | tournament_record = | championships = 2 NJCAA National (1973, 1975)<br>5 AJCAC/ACCAC (1970, 1973–1976) | awards = | coaching_records = }} '''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 year, 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.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=New Prep Grid Coach |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-daily-star/149809028/ |newspaper=Arizona Daily Star |location=Tucson, Arizona |agency=Associated Press |date=May 11, 1967 |page=D2 |access-date=June 21, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}</ref> Widmer joined the coaching staff of the newly opened Mesa Community College as an assistant in 1967 under head coach Mutt Ford. He succeeded Ford as head coach in 1970.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Widmer given position as MCC football head |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic/149809640/ |newspaper=Arizona Republic |location=Phoenix, Arizona |date=May 10, 1970 |page=10D |access-date=June 21, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}</ref> Widmer resigned from his post at Mesa after the 1980 season and was succeeded by assistant coach, Allen Benedict.<ref name="Ariz801225">{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic/149808631/|date=December 25, 1980|pages=Extra 9, [https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-arizona-republic/149808667/ 10]|title=Needing change, Widmer resigns as MCC coach|newspaper=The Arizona Republic|first=Bob|last=Nightengale|author-link=Bob Nightengale|location=Phoenix, Arizona|via=Newspapers.com|access-date=April 9, 2025}}</ref>

Widmer died on October 9, 2017, in Mesa.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Widmer, Paul F. Jr. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/arizona-republic-obituary-for-paul-f-wi/149810564/ |newspaper=Arizona Republic |location=Phoenix, Arizona |date=October 22, 2017 |page=10E |access-date=June 21, 2024 |via=Newspapers.com {{Open access}} }}</ref>

==Head coaching record== ===Junior college=== {{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subhead | name = Mesa Hokams/Thunderbirds | conf = Arizona Junior College Athletic Conference / Arizona Community College Athletic Conference | startyear = 1970 | endyear = 1980 }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | year = 1970 | name = Mesa | overall = 10–1 | conference = 4–0 | confstanding = 1st | bowlname = Shrine Bowl | bowloutcome = L | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 1971 | name = Mesa | overall = 7–2 | conference = 2–2 | confstanding = 3rd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 1972 | name = Mesa | overall = 8–2 | conference = 2–2 | confstanding = 3rd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = national | year = 1973 | name = Mesa | overall = 10–0 | conference = 5–0 | confstanding = 1st | bowlname = El Toro Bowl | bowloutcome = W | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | year = 1974 | name = Mesa | overall = 9–1 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = 1st | bowlname = Wool Bowl | bowloutcome = W | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = national | year = 1975 | name = Mesa | overall = 9–0 | conference = 5–0 | confstanding = 1st | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = conference | year = 1976 | name = Mesa | overall = 9–1–1 | conference = 4–0–1 | confstanding = 1st | bowlname = Wool Bowl | bowloutcome = W | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 1977 | name = Mesa | overall = 7–1–1 | conference = 4–1 | confstanding = 2nd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 1978 | name = Mesa | overall = 7–3 | conference = 3–2 | confstanding = 3rd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 1979 | name = Mesa | overall = 7–3 | conference = 3–2 | confstanding = T–2nd | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Entry | championship = | year = 1980 | name = Mesa | overall = 3–5–1 | conference = 2–3 | confstanding = 4th | bowlname = | bowloutcome = | bcsbowl = | ranking = no | ranking2 = no }} {{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal | name = Mesa | overall = 86–19–3 | confrecord = 38–13–1 }} {{CFB Yearly Record End | overall = 86–19–3 | bowls = no | poll = no | polltype = }}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Widmer, Paul}} Category:1937 births Category:2017 deaths Category:American football tackles Category:Arizona State Sun Devils football players Category:Mesa Thunderbirds football coaches Category:High school football coaches in Arizona Category:People from Harrison Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Category:Players of American football from Allegheny County, Pennsylvania Category:Coaches of American football from Pennsylvania