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| No. 5 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Quarterback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | (1972-12-08)December 8, 1972 (age 52) |
| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight: | 190 lb (86 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Wexford (PA) North Allegheny |
| College: | Notre Dame (1991–1993) IUP (1998) |
| Undrafted: | 1999 |
| Career history | |
As a player: | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
As a coach: | |
| |
Paul J. Failla (born December 8, 1972) is a formerAmerican football andbaseballplayer andcoach.
Failla wasrecruited out ofNorth Allegheny Senior High School inWexford, Pennsylvania by theUniversity of Notre Dame, where he was a two-sport athlete, playingshortstop for thebaseball team, and backing upstartingquarterbacksRick Mirer andKevin McDougal on thefootball team for three years, from1991–1993. In 1992, he playedcollegiate summer baseball with theBrewster Whitecaps of theCape Cod Baseball League.[1][2] When it became clear that he would not win the starting quarterback job in 1994, he entered theMajor League Baseball Draft, and was selected by theCalifornia Angels in the third round.[3]
Following stints with theBoise Hawks, theCedar Rapids Kernels and theLake Elsinore Storm in theminor-league system, he decided to return to school in 1998, and used his final year of NCAA eligibility playing quarterback at theIndiana University of Pennsylvania, where he led the team to a 10–2 record and a playoff berth.
After his graduation from IUP, Failla signed with theArena Football League'sNew Jersey Red Dogs in 1999, and with theNational Football League'sCarolina Panthers in 2000, but failed to record a stat with either team. In 2001, he was drafted by theChicago Enforcers of theXFL with the ninth overall selection, but lost the starting quarterback job to fellow Notre Dame alum Kevin McDougal.
After the XFL folded at the conclusion of its only season, Failla accepted the position ofoffensive coordinator atSaint Francis University, where in the 2005 season his offense set school records for passing yards (3,223), total offense (4,479) and touchdowns (37). He groomed multiple all-conference players including quarterback Anthony Doria (NEC offensive player of the year), wide receiver Luke Palko, running back Todd Harris, andDivision I-AAAll-American wide receiver Micheal Caputo and Quarterback / wide receiver Joe DeLeo. Under Failla, Palko and Caputo tied the NCAA Division I record for most passes caught by two teammates in a career. He then returned to his alma mater at IUP in February 2006 as the offensive coordinator underhead coachLou Tepper, but resigned three months later to pursue business interests. He is currently featured as a regular guest on Pittsburgh'sKDKA Sports Showdown.
