'I was meant to be at Colchester': Girls soccer coach Jeff Paul steps away after 23 years
At his very first preseason practice in 2001, Jeff Paul spoke to his players about building a foundation to win a state championship. Off in the crowd, one player quipped, "Coach, we don't win championships at Colchester."
"I turned to my assistant coaches and said, 'We have a job to do here,'" Paul recalled.
It took 23 seasons, but Paul and the Colchester High School girls soccer team captured that elusive title this past fall, ending the program's 30-year drought after a series of close calls and heartbreaking playoff defeats.
"Winning that championship was one of the surreal moments of my life because of how close we’ve been for such a long time," Paul said. "But I don’t coach to win championships, I coach to develop people."
And after nearly a quarter-century piloting the Lakers, Paul is ready to move on.
The Rutland native who turned 50 years old last week recently made the decision to step down as head coach of the Lakers program he steered to 228 victories, seven Division I title-game bids and 15 semifinal appearances over 23 seasons. In a phone interview Thursday morning, Paul said he's ready for "new challenges" in his life beyond coaching.
"It’s something I’ve been thinking about for a few months now. It was emotional," said Paul, who owns Ramunto's Brick Oven Pizza in Williston. "It was time for me to hang up the whistle."
Leading Colchester to a spot in the D-I title game in his first campaign, Paul kept the Lakers a bonafide contender almost every fall throughout his tenure. Paul's Lakers reached the semifinal round or better in each of the last 10 seasons, culminating with 2023's 15-2 record and the 2-0 title-game victory over Essex at Virtue Field, the program's first crown since 1993.
"It cap it off with a championship was very, very special," Paul said. "Everybody who has ever played for Colchester, I think our program means something to this community. I'm honored to be a part of it.
"We have a reputation as a true blue blood in girls soccer."
About to move to Burlington in 2001, Paul said the advertisement for the Colchester opening was the first one he saw when he checked out the Burlington Free Press classifieds. Paul drove to the interview in a snowstorm.
"I always felt I was meant to be at Colchester," said Paul, who has the Colchester logo tattooed on his left forearm. "And the rest is history."
The Colchester girls soccer job is one of several high-profile gigs in the Metro Division that are currently open. As of Thursday, there are vacancies for head-coach positions with the Essex (boys and girls), Champlain Valley boys and Mount Mansfield girls programs.
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Jeff Paul's year-by-year coaching record at Colchester
Win-loss record over 23 seasons: 228-130-21
Division I title-game appearances: 7
D-I semifinal appearances: 15
2023: 15-2*
2022: 13-2-1
2021: 10-3-3
2020: 5-6-1
2019: 12-5
2018: 13-5
2017: 12-4-1
2016: 16-2
2015: 16-1
2014: 12-5
2013: 6-9
2012: 6-9-1
2011: 8-6-2
2010: 10-5-3
2009: 5-8-2
2008: 4-12-1
2007: 8-6-2
2006: 5-10
2005: 10-5-2
2004: 9-6-2
2003: 13-5
2002: 8-8
2001: 12-6
*--D-I championship
This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont high school girls soccer: Colchester coach Jeff Paul resigns
