Transitioning from player to coach, Sheeks took the helm of Wabash College's football and basketball teams in Indiana. His tenure as the head football coach from 1915 to 1916 was marked by a remarkable record of 14–2–1, achieving a nearly undefeated season in 1915 with a 7–0–1 record—a feat not replicated at Wabash until 1951. This accomplishment places him 11th in total wins and second in winning percentage at the school. In basketball, Sheeks led Wabash to a 19–2 record during the 1916–1917 season, underscoring his coaching prowess across multiple sports.
Post-World War I, Sheeks ventured into professional sports, playing for the Akron Pros in the National Football League (NFL) during the 1921 and 1922 seasons. Beyond his playing career, Sheeks made significant contributions to community recreation and sports development as the recreation director for the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company. In this role, he coached the Akron Red Peppers, a bantamweight football team, to national recognition in 1935.
Sheeks' influence extended into the realm of basketball administration and coaching, where he played a pivotal role in founding the National Basketball League (NBL) in 1935, a forerunner to the National Basketball Association (NBA). As the coach of the Akron Firestone Non-Skids, he led the team to two NBL championships in 1939 and 1940 and earned the NBL Coach of the Year title in both seasons.
Paul Sheeks' legacy is marked by his contributions to the development of professional basketball and his successful coaching career, which left a lasting impact on the sports of football and basketball. He passed away on September 17, 1968, in Akron, Ohio, leaving behind a storied career that spanned various facets of American sports.
🏈