Paul Philpott

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR

Coach Paul Philpott has served as the Defensive Coordinator for Wrecker Football since 2020. During the 2023 State & FCIAC Championship season, Coach Philpott’s defense allowed just 11.3 points per game. In the State Semifinal, the Wreckers shutout the #1 scoring offense in the State, Southington, to advance to the Championship game. In the Championship game, the Wreckers defense stood firm and stopped West Haven’s 2 PT attempt to win the Connecticut State Football Championship and finished the season ranked as the #1 team in the State. The Wreckers have led the State in interceptions over the last three seasons.

Coach Philpott also served on the Wreckersʼ’ staff from 1993-2000, including the 1997 FCIAC Championship team. His son Rob Philpott graduated from Staples in 1996 and is a member of the Staples Football Hall of Fame.

After graduating from college, Coach Philpott was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps. He served as a Naval Aviator for twenty years, including service in combat, and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Following his time in the military, he had a career in the private sector as an executive in the Health Insurance business.

Coach Philpottʼs first High School football coaching experience was in Southern California at Mission Viejo High School, where he was a Defensive Assistant, coaching the linebackers. Prior to coming to Westport, Philpott served as Defensive Coordinator at Daniel Hand High School. During the three-year span from 2017-2019, the Hand Tigers compiled a 37-game winning streak, the third longest in state history, and won two State Championships. During that run, Coach Philpottʼs defense gave up an average of less than 7 points per game. During his 11-year tenure at Hand, the program amassed a total of four State Championships. In addition to three sons and two step-sons, Coach Philpott is father to Winnie, his Old English Bulldog.