FAYETTEVILLE, NC – Robert "Bob" Paroli, an inductee in the 1999 Class of the NCHSAA Hall of Fame, passed away yesterday at his home in Fayetteville, surrounded by family. Bob Paroli was the winningest active head football coach in North Carolina in over 40 years of coaching when he was inducted in the NCHSAA Hall of Fame.
His coaching stops have included Benson (1958-64), Jacksonville (1964-65), New York Military Academy (1965-71), Wilson Fike (1971-76), Burlington Cummings (1976-80) and Fayetteville Douglas Byrd for 25 years from his hiring in 1980. In the 2000's he moved over to Seventy-First and finished his career, winning a first and only state title in 2008 before retiring in 2012. Paroli's team's posted 403 wins during his 55 years in coaching, which is third all-time in NCHSAA history behind only Jack Holley and David Gentry. Paroli's record in 55 years of coaching was 403-206-13.
His Byrd teams made it to the state finals three straight years, from 1995 through '97, and were in the state semifinals in 1998. In all Paroli teams at Douglas Byrd reached the State Championship Game five times. The football stadium at Douglas Byrd bears his name, forever a testament to his dedication and service to the school and students. A native of New York, Paroli is a 1958 graduate of N.C. State University. He has coached in all of the significant football all-star games in the state, including the East-West games, the Shrine Bowl and the old North-South game.
