Bio

Paul Wiggin is a member of the Modesto Junior College Athletics Hall of Fame. He began his football career at MJC and since has experienced five and a half decades as a player, coach and administrator in the collegiate and professional ranks.

Wiggin earned his Bachelor's and Master’s degrees from Stanford University in 1956 and 1959 respectively. The NFL’s Cleveland Brown’s drafted Wiggin in 1956 after serving as a 3-year starter at defensive tackle for Stanford and going on to earn 1st-Team All-Pac-10 and 1st-Team All-America honors in both '55 and '56. Wiggin was named the Stanford Defensive Player of the Century in fan balloting. In 2005, Wiggin joined exclusive company when he was selected for induction into the College Football Hall of Fame in South Bend, Indiana.

In 11 seasons (1957-67) as a defensive end with the Cleveland Browns, Wiggin never missed a game playing in 146 straight regular-season games, which stood as a team record when he retired. During his time there, Cleveland played in three NFL World Championship title games and he started in the Pro Bowl in 1965 and 1967. In addition, Wiggin was named the team's Outstanding Defensive Player in '63, the Browns' Player of the Year in 1966 and the Cleveland Pro Athlete-of-the Year in '67.

Immediately after retiring from his professional playing career in '68, Wiggin became the defensive line coach for the San Francisco 49ers. Despite inheriting a 49ers squad that hadn't been to the playoffs since 1957, Wiggin was part of a staff that guided San Francisco to three straight division titles from 1970-72 and the NFC Championship Game in 1970 and 1971. During his stint, Wiggin tutored the top two sackers (Cedrick Hardman and Tommy Hart) in 49ers history. In '74 Wiggin was promoted to defensive coordinator for San Francisco.

His first head coaching opportunity came at the helm of the Kansas City Chiefs from 1975-77. Wiggin's first NFL win came in a 42-10 victory over Oakland, who went on to capture the AFC West title in '75. The Chiefs won three straight and five of their next seven games, including a 34-31 upset of the year's NFC Champion Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football at Texas Stadium.

Following his tenure with the Chiefs, Wiggin served as the defensive coordinator for the New Orleans Saints in the 78 and 79 seasons. After not winning more than five games in any of their previous 11 seasons, the Saints posted seven victories in '78 and eight in '79. In 1980, Wiggin was selected as the head coach at his alma mater, Stanford University, where he oversaw future NFL 1st-round draft choice John Elway, during the 1st 3 years of a 4 year tenure.

Before joining the Minnesota Vikings in 1985, Wiggin was a part of the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympic Games Organizing Committee. Wiggin joined the Vikings as defensive line coach, a position he held for seven seasons. During the time Wiggin was defensive line coach, Minnesota led the league in total defense twice ('88 and '89). In 1987, the Vikings advanced to the NFC Championship Game before losing 17-10 to the eventual Super Bowl Champion Washington Redskins. In 1989, the Vikings posted 71 sacks, the 2nd-most in a season in NFL history. Defensive end Chris Doleman led the  league with 21 sacks, while defensive tackle Keith Millard added 18 sacks. In addition to Doleman and Millard, Wiggin also helped develop Pro Bowl defensive tackles Henry Thomas and John Randle.

In his latest role as a pro-personnel consultant with the Minnesota Vikings, Wiggin works closely with the department that is responsible for evaluation of all NFL players and advance scouting of the Vikings' upcoming opponents. He has served in various roles with the Vikings for the past 29+ years. He and wife, Carolynn, have been married for 58 years. They have three daughters - Kymberly, Kristyn and Kellie – and twelve grandchildren.