Staples Football Stadium Is Now Coach Paul Lane Field

On Friday night's Victory by the Staples Wreckers football time, the half-time show was the dedication of Coach Paul Lane Field, the new name for the Staples football stadium. In one of his final official acts as First Selectman, Jim Marpe spoke to crowd along with newly elected Fist Selectwoman Jen Tooker. Coach Lane's family was in attendance, pictured in this gallery, including his son Skip Lane who was perhaps Coach Lane's best known player sporting the Super Bowl ring he won playing for the (then) Washington Redskins.

About Coach Lane:

“The Coach”, is a legendary football coach in the State of Connecticut and Fairfield County FCIAC. For 30 years, Coach Lane was instrumental in the growth of football in the Town of Westport. Coach Lane nurtured and mentored athletes from their formative PAL years all the way through High School. Many credit Coach Lane with the success of Staples football and the reputation that continues today in the State of Connecticut. 

Coach Lane started playing football when masks were not used and hardly a pass was thrown in the game. He grew with the sport and many of his teams threw 50 plus passes per game. Coach Lane was an innovator and is respected by almost everyone in the game of football that knew him. He was always learning and teaching and was considered a second father to many that played for him. Coach Lane sent many Westport Wreckers to play in college. To that end, Coach Lane sent seven Staples Wrecker quarterbacks to play for Division 1 Teams, two of which were his sons. Coach Lane put Staples on the “Football Map” over fifty years ago with his then biggest win in 1967 by beating Stamford Catholic High School 8 to 0. Stamford had a 30-game winning streak at the time. Coach Lane won the state championship in 1975 and was 11-0 and multiple Fairfield County Championships! 

Coach Lane also won State championships in Staples Boy’s Track and Staples Girl’s Golf. Coach Lane finished his career in Europe coaching both in Italy and England as American Football was introduced “across the pond” in Europe.

Coach Lane is a graduate of Notre Dame and honorably served in the Korean War stationed in Germany where he coached and played football.

Coach Lane is what we aspire all Wreckers to be, humble, hard-working, ethical and someone who bleeds Wrecker Blue!  

Photos by J.C. Martin for WestportLocal.com Click on any image to enlarge and open gallery