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{{short description|Professional Canadian football coach}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2011}}
{{Infobox CFL biography
|name=Joe Paopao
|team=
|image=2019, Coach Joe Paopao.jpg
|image_upright=0.9
|caption=Paopao before a Redblacks game in 2019.
|position1=Quarterback
|import=
|Height_ft=6
|Height_in=1
|Weight_lbs=200
|number=
|college=[[California State University, Long Beach|Long Beach State]]
|birth_date={{birth date and age|mf=yes|1955|6|30}}
|birth_place=[[Honolulu]], [[Hawaii]], U.S.
|coaching_years1={{CFL Year|1989}}
|coaching_team1=[[BC Lions]] ([[Offensive backfield|OBC]])
|coaching_years2={{CFL Year|1991}}
|coaching_team2=BC Lions ([[Quarterback|QC]])
|coaching_years3={{CFL Year|1992}}–{{CFL Year|1993}}
|coaching_team3=BC Lions ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
|coaching_years4={{CFL Year|1994}}–{{CFL Year|1995}}
|coaching_team4=[[Edmonton Eskimos]] ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
|coaching_years5={{CFL Year|1996}}
|coaching_team5=[[BC Lions]] ([[Head coach|HC]])
|coaching_years6={{CFL Year|1997}}–{{CFL Year|1998}}
|coaching_team6=[[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]] ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
|coaching_years7={{CFL Year|1999}}–{{CFL Year|2000}}
|coaching_team7=BC Lions ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
|coaching_years8={{CFL Year|2001}}
|coaching_team8=[[San Francisco Demons]] ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
|coaching_years9={{CFL Year|2002}}–{{CFL Year|2005}}
|coaching_team9=[[Ottawa Renegades]] ([[Head coach|HC]])
|coaching_years10={{CFL Year|2006}}
|coaching_team10=[[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
|coaching_years11=[[2007 CIS football season|2007]]–[[2011 CIS football season|2011]]
|coaching_team11=[[Waterloo Warriors]] ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]])
|coaching_years12=[[2012 CIS football season|2012]]–[[2013 CIS football season|2013]]
|coaching_team12=Waterloo Warriors ([[Head coach|HC]])
|coaching_years13={{CFL Year|2014}}
|coaching_team13=[[BC Lions]] (RC)
|coaching_years14=2015–2018 
|coaching_team14=[[Simon Fraser Clan football]] ([[Offensive coordinator|OC]]) 
|coaching_years15={{CFL Year|2019}}
|coaching_team15=[[Ottawa Redblacks]] ([[Running backs coach|RB]], [[Quarterbacks coach|QB]])
|playing_years1={{CFL Year|1978}}–{{CFL Year|1983}}
|playing_team1=[[BC Lions]]
|playing_years2={{CFL Year|1984}}–{{CFL Year|1986}}
|playing_team2=[[Saskatchewan Roughriders]]
|playing_years3={{CFL Year|1987}}
|playing_team3=[[Ottawa Rough Riders]]
|playing_years4={{CFL Year|1990}}
|playing_team4=BC Lions
}}
'''Joe Paopao''' (born June 30, 1955) is a former professional [[Canadian football]] [[quarterback]] and coach in the [[Canadian Football League]] (CFL). Paopao played 11 seasons in the CFL and was a member of the [[BC Lions]], [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]], and the [[Ottawa Rough Riders]]. He began his coaching career with the [[BC Lions]] and has coached with five CFL organizations, including stints as head coach with the [[BC Lions]] in 1996 and the [[Ottawa Renegades]] from 2002–2005. He most recently served as the quarterbacks coach for the [[Ottawa Redblacks]].

==Professional playing career==
Paopao began his CFL career as a [[quarterback]] for the [[BC Lions]] in [[1978 CFL season|1978]]. He was nicknamed the "Throwin' Samoan" for his great ability to pass, as he led the Lions in passing for the next three seasons and set a CFL record in [[1979 CFL season|1979]] for pass completions in a single game. By [[1983 CFL season|1983]], he had lost the starting job to [[Roy Dewalt]]. In [[1984 CFL season|1984]] he signed with the [[Saskatchewan Roughriders]] and again led that team in passing. He was traded to the [[Ottawa Rough Riders]] in [[1987 CFL season|1987]], and the following year to the [[Winnipeg Blue Bombers]]. That year, he was named the offensive backfield coach of the BC Lions, thus beginning his CFL coaching career. The next year however, he went back to his old position of quarterback for the Lions, backing up [[Doug Flutie]], in his last season.

==Coaching career==

=== Early CFL coaching career ===
In [[1991 CFL season|1991]], Paopao was made the quarterback coach of the Lions. In [[1992 CFL season|1992]] he was promoted to offensive coordinator. Paopao was with the Lions for four seasons to begin his coaching career. Paopao then left to be the offensive coordinator for the [[Edmonton Eskimos]] in [[1994 CFL season|1994]]. In [[1996 CFL season|1996]] Paopao returned to BC to be the head coach, but he only managed to win 5 games and lost 13 during his only season as the Lions head coach. Following his first stint as a head coach Paopao was hired by the Blue Bombers as the team's offensive coordinator, a position which he held for two seasons. He once again returned to the Lions in [[1999 CFL season|1999]] and as the offensive coordinator and assistant head coach.

=== San Francisco Demons ===
Paopao was hired as the offensive coordinator for the [[San Francisco Demons]] of the [[XFL (2001)|XFL]]. The league was operational for only one season, and thus Paopao was once again looking for work.

=== Ontario ===
In [[2001 CFL season|2001]] Paopao was hired as the head coach of the new [[Ottawa Renegades]] franchise where he coached for four seasons from 2002-2005. However, the Renegades struggled, winning only 23 games and losing 49, the team folded following the [[2005 CFL season|2005 season]]. Paopao was then hired by the [[Hamilton Tiger-Cats]] and named offensive coordinator for the [[2006 CFL season|2006 season]]. He was later relieved of his duties with the Tiger-Cats on August 28, 2006.

=== University of Waterloo ===
Paopao joined the [[University of Waterloo]] [[Waterloo Warriors|Warriors]] as the team's offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in [[2007 CIS football season|2007]], a position he would hold for five years. He was named the team's interim [[head coach]] for the 2012 season after Dennis McPhee's resignation,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/cis/story/?id=382244|title=Paopao to serve as interim head coach of Waterloo Warriors|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131225223836/http://www.tsn.ca/cis/story/?id=382244|archive-date=December 25, 2013|url-status=live|access-date=2017-12-07|df=mdy-all}} Paopao to serve as interim head coach of Waterloo Warriors</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.athletics.uwaterloo.ca/news/2011/12/8/FB_1208113112.aspx|title=Waterloo announces Joe Paopao as interim head coach of Warrior football - University of Waterloo|website=University of Waterloo Warriors - #goblackgogold|date=December 8, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827184931/http://www.athletics.uwaterloo.ca/news/2011/12/8/FB_1208113112.aspx|archive-date=August 27, 2016|url-status=live|access-date=April 24, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> and then full-time head coach in February 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.varsity.uwaterloo.ca/news/2013/2/20/FB_0220133139.aspx|title=Joe Paopao announced as full-time head coach - University of Waterloo|website=University of Waterloo Warriors - #goblackgogold|date=February 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180424103207/http://www.varsity.uwaterloo.ca/news/2013/2/20/FB_0220133139.aspx|archive-date=April 24, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=April 24, 2018|df=mdy-all}}</ref> In two seasons with the Warriors, Paopao had a 3-13 record.

=== Return to BC ===
On February 6, 2014, the [[BC Lions]] announced Paopao would be re-joining the organization as its receivers coach.<ref name="cfl.ca">{{cite web |url=http://cfl.ca/article/receiving-help-paopao-joins-lions-coaching-staff |title=Receiving help: Paopao joins Lions coaching staff &#124; CFL.ca &#124; Official Site of the Canadian Football League |access-date=2014-02-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209064237/http://cfl.ca/article/receiving-help-paopao-joins-lions-coaching-staff |archive-date=February 9, 2014 |df=mdy-all }}</ref>

=== Simon Fraser University ===
On March 27, 2015 Joe Paopao was named offensive coordinator of the [[Simon Fraser University]] Clan football team in the [[NCAA]]'s Division II Great Northwest Athletic Conference.<ref>Conference.https://www.sfu.ca/sfunews/stories/2015/cfl-great-joe-paopao-is-new-offensive-coordinator-for-sfu-clan.html</ref>

=== Return to Ottawa ===
On April 15, 2019 Paopao was hired by the [[Ottawa Redblacks]] as a running backs coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tsn.ca/paopao-joins-redblacks-as-rbs-coach-1.1291091|title=Paopao joins Redblacks as RBs coach - TSN.ca|author=TSN ca Staff|date=2019-04-15|website=TSN|access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> Midway through the [[2019 CFL season|2019 season]], with the offense sputtering and the team having lost six of their last seven matches, head coach [[Rick Campbell]] turned over the role of offensive play-calling to Paopao: His responsibilities with the team also changed from running backs coach to quarterbacks coach.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2019/08/20/redblacks-hand-play-calling-duties-to-joe-paopao/|title=Redblacks hand play-calling duties to Joe Paopao {{!}} 3DownNation|last=Staff|first=3Down|date=August 20, 2019 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-08-21}}</ref> Following a head coaching change, Paopao was not retained by the Redblacks for the 2020 season.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ottawaredblacks.com/2020/02/26/redblacks-unveil-2020-coaching-staff/|title=REDBLACKS unveil 2020 coaching staff|publisher=Ottawa Redblacks|date=February 26, 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Paopao is a longtime resident of [[Oceanside, California|Oceanside]], California. He was added to the [[BC Lions#BC Lions Wall of Fame|BC Lions Wall of Fame]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bclions.com/index.php?module=newser&func=display&topicnum=&nid=18137&writer=0|title=BC Lions - Official site|website=BC Lions|access-date=April 24, 2018|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207060004/http://www.bclions.com/index.php?module=newser&func=display&topicnum=&nid=18137&writer=0|archive-date=February 7, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> He is the uncle of current [[Washington Huskies football|Washington Huskies]] special teams coordinator and tight ends coach, [[Jordan Paopao]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://gohuskies.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jordan-paopao/223|title=Jordan Paopao|website=[[Washington Huskies]]}}</ref>

==CFL coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular Season !! colspan="4"|Post Season
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !!  Result
|-
![[1996 BC Lions season|BC]]||[[1996 CFL season|1996]]
||5||13||0||.278||5th in West Division|| – || – || Missed Playoffs
|-
! colspan="2"|'''BC Total'''
||'''5'''||'''13'''||'''0'''||'''.278'''||'''0 West Division<br />Championships'''||'''0'''||'''0'''||'''0 Grey Cups'''
|-
![[2002 Ottawa Renegades season|OTT]]||[[2002 CFL season|2002]]
||4||14||0||.222||4th in East Division|| – || – || Missed Playoffs
|-
![[2003 Ottawa Renegades season|OTT]]||[[2003 CFL season|2003]]
||7||11||0||.389||3rd in East Division|| – || – || Missed Playoffs
|-
![[2004 Ottawa Renegades season|OTT]]||[[2004 CFL season|2004]]
||5||13||0||.278||4th in East Division|| – || – || Missed Playoffs
|-
![[2005 Ottawa Renegades season|OTT]]||[[2005 CFL season|2005]]
||7||11||0||.389||3rd in East Division|| – || – || Missed Playoffs
|-
! colspan="2"|'''OTT Total'''
||'''23'''||'''49'''||'''0'''||'''.319'''||'''0 East Division<br />Championships'''||'''0'''||'''0'''||'''0 Grey Cups'''
|-
! colspan="2"|'''Total'''
||'''28'''||'''62'''||'''0'''||'''.311'''||'''0 Division<br />Championships'''||'''0'''||'''0'''||'''0 Grey Cups'''
|}

==CIS coaching record==
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"|Team !! rowspan="2"|Year !! colspan="5"|Regular Season !! colspan="4"|Post Season
|-
!Won!!Lost!!Ties!!Win %!!Finish!! Won !! Lost !!  Result
|-
![[Waterloo Warriors|Waterloo]]||[[2012 CIS football season|2012]]
||2||6||0||.250||7th in OUA Division|| – || – || Missed Playoffs
|-
![[Waterloo Warriors|Waterloo]]||[[2013 CIS football season|2013]]
||1||7||0||.125||9th in OUA Division|| – || – || Missed Playoffs
|-
! colspan="2"|'''Waterloo Total'''
||'''3'''||'''13'''||'''0'''||'''.188'''||'''0 OUA Division<br />Championships'''||'''0'''||'''0'''||'''0 Vanier Cups'''
|-
! colspan="2"|'''Total'''
||'''3'''||'''13'''||'''0'''||'''.188'''||'''0 OUA Division<br />Championships'''||'''0'''||'''0'''||'''0 Vanier Cups'''
|}

==See also==
* [[List of University of Waterloo people]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{BCLionsQuarterback}}
{{RoughridersQB}}
{{Ottawa Rough Riders starting quarterback navbox}}
{{BCLionsCoach}}
{{88th Grey Cup}}
{{RenegadesCoach}}
{{Ottawa Renegades general manager navbox}}
{{Waterloo Warriors football coach navbox}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paopao, Joe}}
[[Category:1955 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:American sportspeople of Samoan descent]]
[[Category:BC Lions players]]
[[Category:California State University, Long Beach alumni]]
[[Category:Canadian football quarterbacks]]
[[Category:Edmonton Elks coaches]]
[[Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers coaches]]
[[Category:Ottawa Renegades coaches]]
[[Category:BC Lions coaches]]
[[Category:Long Beach State 49ers football players]]
[[Category:Ottawa Rough Riders players]]
[[Category:Saskatchewan Roughriders players]]
[[Category:Players of American football from Honolulu]]
[[Category:Winnipeg Blue Bombers players]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Oceanside, California]]
[[Category:San Francisco Demons coaches]]
[[Category:Simon Fraser Red Leafs football coaches]]
[[Category:Waterloo Warriors football coaches]]
[[Category:Players of Canadian football from Honolulu]]
[[Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football]]