Jim Pavao

Jim Pavao, has been the defensive coordinator at Gainesville High School (5AAAAA) in Georgia since 2007. The Gainesville defense has been ranked as one of the top scoring defenses in the state of Georgia. In Pavao’s six years as defensive coordinator, Gainesville has accumulated four regional championships, one state runner-up title, one final four appearance, and the 2012 state championship—resulting in a 67/13 record over the past six years.

Pavao started his coaching career in 1981 at Norwich University, where he was a graduate assistant offensive line coach. In 1982, he moved to Davidson College, where he coached defensive ends for two years, including two All-Conference players. In 1984, Pavao was hired to coach defensive ends at Princeton University, where two of his players received All-Ivy honors. Pavao then became the defensive coordinator at Maryville College, where he coached for 16 years and developed some of the top-ranked scoring defenses in Division III. In 2001, he left college coaching and was hired at Burke County High School in Georgia, where he coached for six years. During his tenure at Burke County, Pavao fielded four of the best scoring defenses in school history. From 2004 to 2006, his defenses had 10 shutouts. Pavao has used the 3-4 defense for over 25 years.

Born in 1959 in Providence, Rhode Island, Pavao graduated from East Providence High School, where he was an All-Conference football and baseball player. In 1981, he graduated from Norwich University, where he lettered for three years in both football and baseball.