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Paul McCord enters his ninth season with the Jacksonville women's lacrosse program heading into the 2020 season. As a staple with the program and for his efforts, McCord was elevated from assistant to associate head coach in July 2015.
McCord has directed JU's systems and player development program since his hire in 2011. During his tenure on staff, the Dolphins have posted a 133-43 record, including a 44-1 mark in the ASUN Conference. Highlighted by 15 conference championships – eight regular season titles and seven league tournament crowns – the Dolphins set a school record with three consecutive NCAA postseason appearances twice (2013-15 and 2017-19).
McCord has spoken on the success of the Dolphins’ offensive system several times, including at the US Lacrosse Convention (LaxCon). Inspired by the historic run of the 1990 Loyola Marymount men’s basketball team featured in the ESPN 30 for 30 “Guru of Go,” McCord reached out to former NBA player and LMU legend, Bo Kimble for insight on implementing their famous “run and gun” offense into lacrosse.
Drawing on a combination of Kimble’s expertise, McCord’s football background, and head coach Mindy McCord’s lacrosse knowledge, the Dolphins have led the NCAA in several statistical categories over the years with 17 NCAA statistical championships to their credit; most notably setting, and later breaking, their own NCAA scoring record. The relationship between Kimble and the McCords has been documented an article by Daniel Popper in online magazine the Athletic.
During the 2015 season, McCord assumed active head coaching responsibilities while Head Coach Mindy McCord was on maternity leave. His leadership directed the Dolphins to 17 victories, a single-season record, which ranked third best in the country. The team also led the NCAA in assists, points, scoring margin and ground balls. McCord oversaw the performance of Atlantic Sun Conference (A-Sun) Player of the Year Holly Ventimiglia and Defensive Player of the year Brit Orashen. The team won its third A-Sun regular-season and tournament titles.
During the 2014 season, McCord once again oversaw the top-rated attack in the nation, leading the country in scoring for the fourth consecutive year. He helped design and implement one of the most innovative pressure defense schemes in the game, enabling the Dolphins to lead the nation in caused turnovers and ground balls while holding opponents to an amazing 58% clear percentage. The team won its second A-Sun regular-season title and third league tournament championship.
During the 2013 season, McCord once again directed the nation's top-rated attack, helping JU to the inaugural A-Sun regular-season and tournament titles.
During the 2012 season, McCord's attack set the NCAA record for scoring in a season, led the nation in scoring for the second straight season and claimed the National Lacrosse Conference championship for the se year in a row.
McCord began his career at Jacksonville University in 2011 leading the team's offense to a top NCAA ranking and helping the Dolphins to a then-record for wins (14), claiming the National Lacrosse Conference championship.
McCord began his women’s lacrosse coaching career in 1999 as an assistant at Western Maryland College, where he also served as the team’s strength and conditioning coach. He assisted the program until 2002, helping the Green Terror to become nationally competitive in the Centennial Conference. He has been a staple on the collegiate camp circuit, working camps at Northwestern University, Jacksonville University, and many others. He directs the Lax University Camp in Maryland and JU lacrosse camps in Florida. In 2006, he founded LaxManiax Lacrosse Club and Bartram Trail High School lacrosse club while serving as a founding coach with Creeks Athletics Association.
Before focusing on lacrosse, McCord enjoyed a successful career as a football coach. After being cut in training camp by the Dallas Cowboys as a player, McCord took an assistant coaching job at Western Maryland College (now known as McDaniel College) and was part of a staff that led the school to its first-ever Centennial Conference championship in 1997 and six consecutive conference titles overall. McCord also had a brief stint as a player with the Ohio Cannon and Baltimore Ravens before becoming an intern with the Baltimore Ravens under head coach Brian Billick from 1999-01, working on the special teams staff. He was part of the organization that won Super Bowl XXXV when the Ravens defeated the New York Giants.
Following his stint in Baltimore, McCord worked under Joe Gardi as a special teams coach at Hofstra University, helping the then-Flying Dutchmen to an Atlantic 10 co-championship and a top-10 I-AA ranking in 2001.
McCord then moved to the First Coast to serve as an assistant special teams and strength coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars before becoming a special teams consultant with the Buffalo Bills in 2004 and 2005.
McCord graduated cum laude from Western Maryland College with a degree in history and education. He went on to earn his Master’s in exercise science from WMC, now called McDaniel College. Paul and Mindy have a daughter, Taylor, who graduated in 2016 and played for Jacksonville women's lacrosse team. The couple also welcomed a son, Lytton, in 2014.
