Paul Crandell

Wide Receiver (1951-52)

Paul Crandell was born and raised in Coffeyville.  A 1951 graduate of Coffeyville High School, he participated in football, basketball and track.

In football, he was All League two years and All Area and All State his senior year.  During his senior year he was named State Lineman of the Week by the Topeka newspaper.  In basketball, he was All League and captain of the basketball team, and lettered two years in track.  Paul was voted the outstanding athlete of his high school class.

Paul chose Coffeyville Junior College over Kansas State University because of his desire to participate in not only football, but also basketball and track.  In football, he started part-time and played both offense and defense.  In 1951, the Ravens were State Champions.  Paul was chosen co-captain of the football team in 1952.  In basketball, he started for two years, and was the team’s second leading scorer his sophomore year.

In track, not only was he All State two years, but he was also part of the 1953 track team which won the State Championship – CCJC’s first Track State Championship.

Paul was voted the Outstanding Freshman Athlete in the 1951-52 school year.  In 1952-53, he was voted the Outstanding Athlete at CCJC.

Paul went on to play football at Kansas State University, where he played both offense and defense for the team that tied for second in the Big 7 – now the Big 12.  His career was cut short at Kansas State when he was drafted during the Korean Conflict.

After serving two years in the service, Paul decided to use his fourth year of eligibility and went out for football at Kansas State Teacher’s College (now Pittsburg State University).  The 1957 football team went undefeated during the season, and defeated Hillsdale, Michigan 27-26 in the Holiday Bowl, making Pittsburg the National Champions.  Paul was named to the CIC All-Conference Team in 1957.

Paul’s teammates on the National Championship Football Team voted him the recipient of the Richard Stratton Award, an award given annually to the player who has contributed most to the general morale of the team by his conduct, spirit, observance of training rules, team loyalty and overall attitude.

After college, Paul taught and coached for 35 years in the Coffeyville School System.  He was head coach of boys’ and girls’ track, winning State Championships with both.  He also coached cross country, swimming, girls’ basketball, and assisted in football and boys’ basketball.

In 1987, after winning the Girls’ State Track Championship, Paul was voted State Track Coach of the Year by the Kansas Coaches Association.  He then represented Kansas in the National Coach of the Year Contest.