COACHES

Head Coach: Paul Funches

Proven Program Builder – Paul Funches brings extensive post-grad football experience to elevate the Goodyear Wranglers into a premier program.

In 2021, Paul Funches led his team to the NPGAA National Championship and earned Coach of the Year honors.

Founder of Liberty Prep Sports Academy (2018) – Paul Funches established a successful post-grad program dedicated to preparing athletes for four-year universities.

In its inaugural season, Paul Funches guided Liberty Prep to an 11–1 record, including eight weeks ranked #1 nationally.

Paul Funches

Paul Funches brings more than 16 years of coaching and management experience to the table. He began his coaching career in 2007 as a graduate assistant at Franklin College before stepping away from the sidelines to serve as a supervisor at Atterbury Job Corps Center. There, he worked with young men ages 16 to 22, helping them develop healthy social skills and become responsible members of society.

After his time at Atterbury, Paul returned to coaching in Marion, Indiana, where he served as the varsity defensive coordinator at the local high school. From 2011 to 2016, he led one of the top defenses in the state of Indiana, earning recognition for his leadership and success. His career then came full circle when he returned to the college game as the running backs coach at Indiana Wesleyan University. Drawing on his playing and coaching experience at Franklin College, Paul helped student-athletes adapt to the demands of being a college athlete both on and off the field.

In 2018, Paul took a bold step and founded Liberty Prep Sports Academy, a post-grad/junior college football program dedicated to developing and preparing young men for success at four-year universities. In its inaugural season, Liberty Prep achieved an 11–1 record, held the #1 national post-grad ranking for eight consecutive weeks, captured the Great Lakes Conference Championship, and won the NPGAA National Championship. Serving as the program’s defensive coordinator, Paul led Liberty Prep to have the #1 defense in the nation and was honored as the NPGAA National Coach of the Year.

Over the course of his career, Paul has built a deep knowledge base for guiding individuals, families, and organizations in making informed decisions about life, education, and athletics. His passion for helping young people succeed—both in football and beyond—continues to drive his work with the Goodyear Wranglers.

Goodyear Wranglers is one of the first private Post High School Collegiate/JUCO Football teams in Arizona whose program will help post-high school football players develop academically, athletically and physically to reach their goal of playing major college football.


HAVE ANY QUESTIONS?

650N 137th Avenue Suite 160

Goodyear, AZ 85338

Coach Paul Funches - Head Coach

(317) 910-1375

Mark Brady - Commissioner of Football

435-773-2903

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