Football
- Title:
- Safeties Coach | 9th Season
Paul Gonzales was named TCU’s safeties coach in 2018 after serving the previous three seasons as cornerbacks coach.
In his six seasons as safeties coach, Gonzales has mentored six players into the NFL.
TCU's 2022 College Football Playoff team saw its safeties play a major role. Millard Bradford and Bud Clark were Honorable-Mention All-Big 12 while Mark Perry placed second on the team with 84 tackles. Clark's five interceptions were the most by a Horned Frog since fellow safety Ar'Darius Washington in 2019. Clark's final pick of the season was returned 41 yards for a touchdown for TCU's first points in its CFP Semifinal win over Michigan.
The 2023 campaign saw TCU safeties again shine as Bradford and Perry earned All-Big 12 recognition en route to signing free-agent contracts with the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins, respectively.
Under the tutelage of Gonzales, Tre'von Moehrig won the 2020 Paycom Jim Thorpe Award as the nation's top defensive back. He was named to seven All-America teams and was a second-round draft pick of the Las Vegas Raiders. Additionally, Washington signed a free-agent contract with the Baltimore Ravens.
In 2019, Gonzales coached Moehrig into first-team All-Big 12 honors. Washington was named a Freshman All-American and Vernon Scott become a seventh-round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers. Pro Football Focus rated Moehrig and Washington as the nation's top-two safeties.
In his first season as safeties coach, Gonzales mentored Innis Gaines and Ridwan Issahaku into second-team All-Big 12 recognition. Gaines signed a free-agent contract with the Packers.
Gonzales also made an immediate impact in his debut campaign with the cornerbacks in 2015, as the position was instrumental in the Horned Frogs ranking first in the Big 12 in opponent completion percentage (49.8) and fewest touchdown passes allowed (17). TCU was second in the conference in pass efficiency defense (112.6).
The 2016 campaign saw Gonzales coach Ranthony Texada into a second-team Associated Press All-Big 12 selection. Texada earned first-team All-Big 12 honors in 2017 while also being named to multiple All-America teams. He was a free-agent signee by the Washington Redskins.
Gonzales spent the previous three seasons as a graduate assistant with the TCU defense. He worked with the safeties and linebackers.
Gonzales came to TCU in 2012 after two years as the defensive backs coach at Pacific University. He served as a defensive assistant at UC Davis (2008-09) and was an offensive assistant at Pioneer High School in Woodland, Calif., in 2007.
A native of San Jose, Calif., Gonzales was a four-year letterman for the UC Davis baseball team. He earned his degree from UC Davis in communication and psychology.
Gonzales and his wife, Noel, have two sons: Weston and Chase.
