The Windsor High School administration named former veteran Cardinal Newman coach Paul Cronin to lead the Jaguar’s football program on Friday, taking over for former head coach Tom Kirkpatrick.
The surprise announcement ends two weeks of speculation as to who would succeed Kirkpatrick, who stepped down last month when he learned the school was looking to replace him with an on-campus coach.
The 43-year-old Cronin, who led the Cardinals to seven North Bay League titles, five North Coast Section championships and a pair of trips to the CIF State Bowl game in 14 seasons at the helm, also served as head coach at Piner High School in Santa Rosa before moving over to Cardinal Newman. He will be an on-campus Physical Education teacher when he joins the Windsor staff later this month.
A Sonoma County native and former star athlete at Piner, Cronin comes in with an impressive resume both as a coach and educator.
“Paul Cronin will continue steering Windsor High School football in the same positive direction that Tom Kirkpatrick began two years ago,” Athletic Director Jeff Hardie said. “Tom’s influence reinvigorated WHS football and Paul will only add to it. In addition, with Paul being an on-campus coach, it is a bonus for our student-athletes and faculty.”
