Paul Funches

Follower of Christ| NPGAA 2021 National Champian & Coach Of The Year| Defensive Coordinator Goodyear HS| IN ✈️ AZ

[Jill @JillElizabethT]

Today I removed 29 young men from our roster. 😭

I’m not going to let anyone else tell this story first, so here it is from me.

This year we went tuition free. Not reduced. Free. Because I never wanted cost to be the thing that stopped a kid from getting to the next level.

What was asked in return was in the contract every player signed and initialed: a $500 deposit, and a commitment to raise $500 through our fundraiser. That’s it. One thousand dollars, half of it raised from family, friends, and local sponsors, for a tuition-free post-grad year.

Twenty-nine players paid zero.

Since 2022 I have tried to meet families where they are. That has never been a marketing line … it’s how I actually run this. If a family couldn’t pay, we found a way. I fundraised. I took on extra work through my marketing company and used it to pay BFA’s bills. When invoices went unpaid, I ate them, because I could not stomach being the reason a kid went home.

I’ve carried more than my share and I’d do it again. Last year our fundraising brought in about $20,000. I personally put in roughly $50,000 through my marketing company and there was another $37,000 in unpaid invoices because I didn’t want to be the reason a kid went home. I don’t regret a dollar of it. But I’ve learned that generosity without structure isn’t generosity … it’s just a slower way to run out of the ability to help anyone.

I want to be clear about something that matters to me more than the money: the kids whose families never paid their bills still got everything from me. I never once took it out on a player. I still worked their film, still made the calls, still fought for them. One family walked away owing us about $2,000. We did our job anyway. That young man is at his dream school today, and I’m proud of him. I’d make that same choice again tomorrow.

So this isn’t bitterness. This is math finally catching up with me. (Can’t I win the lotto or land a huge sponsor lol)

When I looked at the money that actually came in, nearly all of it came from local families. Housing is our single largest cost - close to $100,000 a season - and it exists for out-of-state players. I was being asked to carry a six-figure housing bill funded almost entirely by players who don’t need housing, on the hope the rest would eventually pay.

I won’t do that.

Not to the families who did pay, not to the vendors who trusted us, and not to a program that has been the longest-running post-grad in Florida and is going to stay that way! 💪🏽🏈

So we are eliminating program-provided housing.

For the few out-of-state players who paid and can’t arrange their own housing: they have not been dropped. I am still doing their recruiting. I have their high school film and I know how to use it. I’ll keep working until they land somewhere.

We ARE running a season, we are building around our roster, and we are recruiting a few more locals …over 1/2 the original roster was locals.

We work all year for these kids. We’re not done. 💪🏽🏈

Commit to our mission 👉🏼 https://t.co/2dKGuRpwAn

[Coach Ethan Thompson @CoachThompsonGM]

We just wrapped up a two-day youth camp with over 120+ kids.

If you coach youth sports, thank you.

You are making a huge impact and you don’t get thanked enough!

#HUNT

[azsportsnetwork @AZSPORTSNETWORK]

Attention FB Players Looking For a college:

D3 Whittier College has officially approved the return of FB for the 2026–27 academic year after shutting the program down in 2022.

The school reportedly raised over $814,000 to help relaunch the program through coaching hires

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

I'll never forget these moments..what a time to be alive

[Eddie Ficklin Jr @CoachEdFicklin]

I’ll never forget spending three years at the college level as a position group coach charting plays, communicating from the press box, and learning how to be a coach. Every step matters. Start anywhere, stay consistent, and trust the process. You earn the title of being a Coach.

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

@CoachEdFicklin My 1st year as a college coach I was charting from the sideline, second year I graduated to the press box. Best two seasons of my coaching career. Just learning how to be a good coach

[Brian Skelly @Skellabrine]

If the "college" doesn't have a .edu in the website 99% of the time it's a scam

If your diploma won't have your "colleges" name. 99% of the time it's a scam

If the college links all their academics to a completely unrelated school on their website = scam

If they are not accredited anywhere = scam

There are legit indepent athletic schools but they won't have any of the above issues.

As always ASK talk to former players - you can find them on social media. Talk to people in and around the industry we are happy to help.

[Jill @JillElizabethT]

Added to this CHECK accreditation! In FL once post grad got bad rep (especially in football ) due to scam conference and teams many went “independent juco” or college … they ARE accredited and due take fasfa however many of these are religious accreditations, bible colleges or vocational colleges NOT intended for athletics … they are using in ways not intended . Every school is USA from your local community college to big D1’s are REGIONALLY accredited. If this “school” does not have a regional accreditation credits are most likely non-transferable and if you see employment after in something that requires state certification test (like teacher) they also do not have to accept those credits.

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

@JillElizabethT @BonnFootball Oh absolutely, we were blessed to have two jucos within 3 hours of us. Got a little different when I moved to AZ.

[Princess A @cessadelove1]

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, this morning we’re praying for those of us tired of carrying the weight of being on high alert all the time those whose minds never seem to slow down, who check, double-check, and triple-check everything because we learned to stay prepared for the worst.
Father, today we ask that You break the cycle of overthinking. Help us stop carrying responsibilities that belong to You. Remind us that we are not protected by our worrying; we are protected by Your hand.
Lord, some of us have been in survival mode so long that we don’t know how to rest anymore. We wake up already fearing what could go wrong, replay conversations, analyze people’s tones, and prepare for problems that haven’t happened. We stay tense, guarded, and exhausted because our minds constantly search for danger, even where You have provided safety. Today, help us trade hypervigilance for faith, fear for trust, and survival mode for the abundant life You promised. We surrender every anxious thought, every worst-case scenario, and every burden we’ve been carrying.
In Jesus’ name, Amen. 🤍

[Goodyear Mavs Football @GHSMavsFB]

Happy Father’s Day to all of our Goodyear Dads and father figures.

Thank you for showing up, supporting the journey, and helping our young men become the best version of themselves on and off the field.

[Coach Aaron @vettepassby35]

Timeline cleanse:

There is a freshman on my team. I jokingly asked him before the game how many steals would he get. He responded & said as many as the lord allows. I wasn’t expecting that lol.

Come to find out he reads scripture and prays on his own before every game.

[Princess A @cessadelove1]

Let’s pray:

Heavenly Father, as we come to You in prayer this Sunday morning, we rejoice in Your goodness. Thank You for Your love, mercy, grace, and favor. We are thankful that You are always with us, Your eyes upon us, and Your ear open to our prayers. You are the all-sufficient God we can always depend on.

Today, we ask that You give Your people the refreshing, soul-calming peace that comes only from You. Many have all the comforts this life offers but remain fearful and anxious, lacking the peace that passes all understanding. Let Your peace rest upon those battling unfounded fears and anxiety. Increase their faith, fill them with hope, and let them feel Your presence as the Holy Spirit leads them.
In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

@AZSPORTSNETWORK @CCCLionsFB 🤷🏿‍♂️

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

@AZSPORTSNETWORK @CCCLionsFB I just pulled it off the NJCAA website today

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

@AZSPORTSNETWORK @CCCLionsFB I understand there are some scams out there, but there are more trying to do the right thing for young men. I only speak on what I know and the ones I have seen for my own eyes or have dealt with directly.

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

@AZSPORTSNETWORK @CCCLionsFB This is what I found

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

@AZSPORTSNETWORK @CCCLionsFB Yeah Idk anything about all that, I know the Michigan team is recognized as a NJCAA D1 program and has been for a couple years now

[Paul Funches @CoachFunch]

@AZSPORTSNETWORK @CCCLionsFB Detroit Michigan, they are a solid program. I've watched them grow from their beginning.

[Princess A @cessadelove1]

I shall not cry in June, I shall conquer.
I shall not wander, I shall build.
I shall not decrease, I shall overflow.
I shall not beg, I shall command.
I shall not retreat, I shall advance.
I shall not guess, I shall discern.
I shall not panic, I shall prophesy.
So shall it be, Amen.