| Dean Paul | |
| Current Title: | Assistant head coach |
| Current Team: | John Carroll |
| Current Conference: | OAC |
| Birth Place: | Garrettsville, Ohio, U.S. |
| Player Years1: | 1987–1990 |
| Player Team1: | Mount Union |
| Player Positions: | Fullback |
| Coach Years1: | 1991–1992 |
| Coach Team1: | Allegheny (GA) |
| Coach Years2: | 1993–1994 |
| Coach Team2: | Tulane (assistant) |
| Coach Years3: | 1995–1997 |
| Coach Team3: | Wooster (DC/DB) |
| Coach Years4: | 1998 |
| Coach Team4: | Fordham (WR) |
| Coach Years5: | 1999–2003 |
| Coach Team5: | Thomas More |
| Coach Years6: | 2004–2023 |
| Coach Team6: | Ohio Northern |
| Coach Years7: | 2024–present |
| Coach Team7: | John Carroll (AHC) |
| Overall Record: | 161–89 |
| Tournament Record: | 3–3 (NCAA D-III playoffs) |
| Championships: | 2× OAC Coach of the Year (2010, 2015) |
| Coaching Records: | Winningest Football Coach in Ohio Northern University history. |
Dean Paul (born) is an American college football coach. He is the assistant head coach for John Carroll University, a position he has held since 2024. He was the head football coach at Ohio Northern University from 2004 to 2023 and Thomas More College from 1999 to 2003. He played college football as a fullback at Mount Union College—now known as the University of Mount Union—from 1987 to 1990.
Paul earned eleven varsity letters at James A. Garfield High School in football, basketball, and baseball. He earned all conference honors in all three sports. At Mount Union, he earned all Ohio Athletic Conference honors in 1988 and 1990 as a fullback.[1] [2] As a senior he led the Purple Raiders in rushing, receiving yards and receptions in a 1st round playoff game against Allegheny College.
Following Paul's graduation from Mount Union in 1991, he was hired as a graduate assistant for Allegheny under head coach Ken O'Keefe.[3]
In 1993, Paul joined Tulane as an assistant coach under head coach Buddy Teevens.
In 1995, Paul was named defensive coordinator and defensive backs coach for Wooster under head coach Jim Barnes.[4] [5] In his final year in 1997, he helped lead the team to a 9–1 record and a shared title of the North Coast Athletic Conference.
In 1998, Paul reunited with O'Keefe as his wide receivers coach for Fordham.[6]
In 1999, Paul was named as the second all-time coach for Thomas More College—now known as Thomas More University—following the departure of Vic Clark.[7] In his third season with the team he led them to their second all-time playoff appearance and first playoff win in 2001 as they finished the season going 11–1. In five seasons he went 40–12 with one playoff appearance.
In 2004, Paul was named head football coach for Ohio Northern University after interim head coach Stacey Hairston was not renewed.[8] [9] In his twenty-year career with Ohio Northern he finished with an overall record of 121–77 including two postseason appearances in 2010 and 2015. Following the 2023 season, he announced his resignation from the school and ended his tenure as the program's all-time leader in wins.[10] [11] [12]
In 2024, Paul was named assistant head coach for John Carroll University under head coach Jeff Behrman.[13] [14] [15] [16]