Dan Paro '79
Athletic Director and Varsity Head Football Coach
301-214-1204
dparo@gprep.org

Dan Paro ’79 is entering his twenty-eight year as Georgetown Prep’s varsity head football coach. In his head coaching career, Coach Paro maintains a 173-84 record and a 68% winning percentage. He began his tenure on the Prep varsity football staff as the special teams, defensive backs and running backs coach from 1986-1993. From 1994-1996, Coach Paro served as Coach Jim Fegan’s offensive coordinator.

In his thirty-nine years as a member of the Prep coaching staff, the Hoyas have won 16 I.A.C. titles and Prep has been ranked top-20 in the state of Maryland 23 times. Note that Prep competed in the MIAA for 10 years. Due to their excellence, they were asked to leave the IAC following their success from 2000-2003. Coach Paro led the Hoyas to a 30-game winning streak spanning from 2000-2003. The 2002 varsity football team finished the season ranked number one in the area by The Washington Post.

Coach Paro played football for four years at Prep and was honored All Independant his senior year.

Coach Paro has been honored by several local media outlets and local football organizations as “Coach of the Year” including: the Interstate Athletic Conference (I.A.C.), The Montgomery County Gazette, The Montgomery Journal, The Sentinel, MSFCA, the Washington Redskins and the National Football League (N.F.L.), the All-American Football Foundation Washington, D.C., Chapter, WRC TV, WMAL, WTOP, and WDFOA Hobie O’Mera.

He is a member of the American Football Coaches Association, Maryland High School Football Coaches Association, the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame, the Maryland State Athletic Directors Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations, and the Jesuit Schools Network. In 2012, he was named the Athletic Director of the Year for Maryland, region 2A and received the NIAAA Certificate of Merit in 2012, 2016 and 2025. In 2021 Coach Paro was inducted into the Maryland Football Coaches Association Hall of Fame at Byrd Stadium. Coach Paro was honored by the American Football Coaches Association for 35 years of service. In 2016 Coach Paro received Georgetown Prep’s Highest Honor, The Insignious Medal. In addition, Georgetown Prep honored Coach Paro on October 21, 2023 by naming the plaza behind the Campus Center & Residence Hall that overlooks the Historic Fegan-Galvin Field, William V. Bidwill ’49 Stadium, The Paro Family Plaza.

A 1979 Prep graduate, Coach Paro matriculated to Denison University where he was a four-year letterman on the football team. In 1981 he was All Ohio Athletic Conference. In 1982, he served as team captain and was named team MVP, All-OAC, and earned All-American honors. During his time at Denison, Coach Paro started in every game during his four year career. Coach Paro during this time started at middle guard his freshmen year, DE his sophomore year, SS his junior year and strong side corner his senior year. During all four years Coach Paro punted and kicked along with his other duties.

In 1981, he led the nation in punting with a 41.2-yard average while being named All-OAC. He finished second in the nation in 1982 with a 42-yard average. Coach Paro held three OAC records following his time at Denison. He is a member of the Denison Hall of Fame.

After Denison, Coach Paro signed free agent contracts with the Detroit Lions and the Washington Redskins. He signed a free agent contract in May 1983 with the Super Bowl Champion Washington Redskins and spent training camp and summer with the team.

During the 1984 and 1985 season, Coach served as a Graduate Assistant and Assistant Football Coach at Ohio University. Coach Paro received a master’s of Athletic Administration degree from Ohio University in 1985. He was a teacher at Mater Dei from 1989-1995 before serving as Prep’s Dean of Students from 1996-1998. Coach Paro has served as Prep’s Athletic Director since 1999. In that span, the Hoyas have won 121 I.A.C. titles across all sports and have captured 20 I.A.C. Founders Cups.

Coach Paro and his wife, Lisa, have two daughters Jenna and Lilly. Jenna works in fashion marketing in NYC and Lilly is Head of Women’s Basketball Operations at Princeton University. Lisa is the Development Director for the Washington Jesuit Academy.