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Paul Wiggin

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Paul Wiggin
No. 86, 84
Position:Defensive end
Personal information
Born: (1934-11-18) November 18, 1934 (age 90)
Modesto, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:242 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:Manteca (Manteca, California)
College:Modesto Junior College
Stanford
NFL draft:1956 / round: 6 / pick: 73
Career history
As a player:
As a coach:
As an administrator:
Career highlights and awards
Record at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Stats at Pro Football Reference Edit this at Wikidata

Paul David Wiggin (born November 18, 1934) is an American former football player and coach. He played professional as a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League (NFL). He later coached in the NFL as well as in college football.

When he graduated Manteca High School in 1952, he was named the Most Outstanding Athlete.[1] He attended Modesto Junior College.[2] After graduating from Stanford University in 1957,[3] he spent his entire 11-year playing career with Cleveland until his retirement following the 1967 NFL season. Twice earning Pro Bowl honors, Wiggin was a key member of the team's defensive line when it won the 1964 NFL championship with a 27–0 shutout of the Baltimore Colts.

He was named an assistant coach with the San Francisco 49ers on February 14, 1968, spending the next seven seasons with the team until being hired as head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs on January 23, 1975. After compiling an 11–24 mark in less than three seasons, Wiggin was fired following a 44–7 loss against his old team, the Browns, on October 30, 1977.

After Dick Nolan was named as head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 1978, he once again hired Wiggin as the team's defensive coordinator. Spending two years in the position, Wiggin then was hired as head coach at his alma mater, Stanford, on February 1, 1980.

Despite the presence of quarterback John Elway on the team during his first three years, Wiggin was unable to lead Stanford to a bowl game during his tenure and was dismissed following the 1983 season with a 16–28 record over four years. Wiggin's efforts to reach a bowl game had come agonizingly close in 1982, when his team fell victim to what simply became known as The Play on November 20. In an incredible finish against the University of California, the school's arch-rival, Cal lateraled five times in the closing seconds to score the winning touchdown.

Head coaching record

College

Year Team Overall Conference Standing Bowl/playoffs
Stanford Cardinals / Cardinal (Pacific-10 Conference) (1980–1983)
1980 Stanford 6–5 3–4 T–6th
1981 Stanford 4–7 4–4 T–6th
1982 Stanford 5–6 3–5 7th
1983 Stanford 1–10 1–7 10th
Stanford: 16–28 11–20
Total: 16–28

NFL

Team Year Regular season Postseason
Won Lost Ties Win % Finish Won Lost Win % Result
KC 1975 5 9 0 .357 3rd in AFC West
KC 1976 5 9 0 .357 4th in AFC West
KC 1977 1 6 0 .143 Fired
Total 11 24 0 .314 0 0 .000

References

  1. ^ "Paul Wiggin".
  2. ^ "Modesto Junior College". Modesto Junior College. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
  3. ^ Traditions – Stanford University Official Athletic Site Archived August 27, 2008, at the Wayback Machine