A visionary leader in educational athletics, Paul Green is celebrated for building one of the nation’s largest and most impactful junior high school sports programs, inspiring countless young athletes and setting a standard of excellence across the country. A dedicated coach, educator, administrator and teacher, Green built his career on the belief that athletics provide young people with the foundation for discipline, teamwork, and lifelong success.

In 1959, his family moved to southwest Miami, Florida, where Coach Green began coaching football and boys junior varsity basketball alongside Marshall University graduate Coach Chuck Fieldson at Miami Beach Senior High School. In 1966, he accepted a position as Athletic Director and Physical Education Teacher at the newly opened Glades Junior High School in southwest Miami-Dade County. There, he launched an innovative intramural program, built an obstacle course, and opened the athletic fields for youth baseball, softball, and soccer.

That same year, Green also took on the responsibility of organizing and administrating all of Dade County’s junior high school athletics; a role he held from 1966 to 1986. As an administrator, coach, teacher and contest official he oversaw scheduling, officiating, and program development across the district. Under his leadership, and through his mentoring of countless young teachers and coaches, the Dade County Junior High School Sports Program grew into the third-largest junior high program in the nation, touching the lives of thousands of student-athletes and their families. He collaborated with coaches, coordinated officials, expanded athletic opportunities across numerous sports, and opened his facilities to support local youth associations.

Coach Green’s vision extended far beyond junior high. By establishing a robust “feeder system” for high schools, he helped coaches across Miami-Dade know which athletes would be entering their programs in the future. His efforts ensured that high schools received well-prepared athletes who had already competed in a wide range of sports, including flag football, wrestling, softball, basketball, baseball, soccer, track and field, swimming, diving, golf, tennis, and cheerleading. This pipeline not only elevated the level of play but also helped build communities, traditions, and ultimately successful high school athletic programs throughout the county.

Respected statewide, Green’s influence reached well beyond his own community. His pioneering model became a standard for other districts, strengthening the structure of interscholastic sports across Florida. His legacy is defined not just by the size of the program he built but by the countless student-athletes whose lives were shaped by his commitment to opportunity, mentorship, and community.
 
Coach Paul Green was a contributor to the lives of many student-athletes, coaches, and officials during his career. His impact spans many years and multiple areas: as a coach, FHSAA official, and community administrator. Coach Green passed away on March 5, 2023, at the age of 89.