A Quest for Perfection: The Story of Paul Michlig

By Adam Rutz

When Paul Michlig took a coaching job at his high school alma mater in 2003, he was faced with a very tough challenge. Michlig accepted an offer with a losing team that wasn’t going anywhere at the time, but he took that task and made the best of it. At the end of the Newman Catholic Cardinals’ 2009 season, Michlig had the program completely turned around. He had led his football team to their second consecutive playoff birth, something that Newman Catholic hadn’t done in a very long time. However, things in 2010 were even better; Newman not only got to the playoffs for a third consecutive time, but they also got the first WIAA playoff wins in school history. Football isn’t the only sport Michlig has had success coaching either, as his girl’s track team added another trophy to the case last year with a second place finish at state.

Paul Michlig graduated from Newman in 1996; he was a stellar three-sport athlete in football, basketball, and track. "I put in a lot of hours in working out when I was younger. We spent a lot of hours playing sports and the bond I created with my teammates was key because good teamwork brings success" says Michlig. He still holds the school record in track for his 100-meter dash time, and is number one in the record books in a lot of football statistics. Though he may have his accolades from the past, they don’t mean nearly as much to him as seeing young student-athletes develop as human beings.

After Michlig finished college, he ended up returning to Newman to coach and hasn’t ever thought of doing things differently. "Life works in strange ways. I am a strong believer in the Catholic religion and wanted to be a part of that. It worked out for me and I am really proud to be at Newman Catholic" Michlig says. In seeing firsthand how Michlig acts when coaching, he demands hard work from his athletes, but, importantly, also demands that they grow as Christians as well.

The 33-year old coaches varsity football, varsity track & field, and 8^th grade boys basketball. He enjoys being a part of how young men and women develop as people, and that is what he says is his favorite thing about coaching. All of his success in track really helps with making high-school athletes better because he has a lot of experience with what he is coaching. Michlig also enjoys being around his assistant coaches and friends, like Coach Thorpe, who helps with football and track & field.

While the hard work behind the scenes continues, Newman sports will continue to stay on the rise as well with all the talent and dedication the student athletes put in for their coaches.