Linfield College’s (now University) decades-long streak of winning football seasons began under the leadership of coach Paul Durham (October 18, 1913 – June 22, 2007). From 1949 through 1967, Paul was both football coach and athletic director in McMinnville. In his twenty years as head man, the Wildcats football record was 122-5-10. Durham directed Linfield to seven Northwest Conference Championships and six second place finishes. Linfield advanced to the NAIA championship twice during his tenure.
Durham grew up in Southeast Portland. He played football, basketball and competed in track and field at Franklin High school and again as a Linfield student, graduating in 1936. At Linfield, Durham collected ten varsity letters. He began his career teaching and coaching at Yamhill, Franklin and Cleveland High Schools. Yamhill did not have a football team. At Franklin, Durham coached football, soccer and ice hockey.
Paul returned to McMinnville in 1948, first just as football coach. He added athletic director and, briefly, basketball coaching duties a year later. Along with coaching and teaching health classes, Durham was well-read, sang in choirs and was a popular speaker and storyteller. He wrote a column for the News-Register newspaper.
Linfield football found success under Durhams guidance, it just took a while. The streak of winning seasons began in 1956. The national championship quests would follow. Linfield finished second in the NAIA in 1961 and 1965 and reached the national semifinals in 1964. In 1962 he was named NAIA coach of the year.
He coached and mentored many future coaches including his eventual replacement, the legendary Ad Rutschman.
In 1968, Durham moved to the University of Hawaii where he served as athletic director until 1975. He was instrumental in the program’s advancement to full Division 1 status. Paul remained in Hawaii Paul Durham was president of the NAIA National Football Coaches Association and is a member of five halls of fame including the NAIA coach’s, Linfield, Hawaii and PIL.