"Paul Blodgett is a tremendous educator and a great goalkeeper coach. He is someone who knows what it takes to train and motivate a goalkeeper to reach the next level."

Dave Masur, Head Coach, St. John's University

Paul is a native of Hilton, NY, outside of the Rochester area. He is a graduate of Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, which is where he generated his interest in the game of soccer.

After receiving his Master's Degree in Physical Education and Health from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, Paul remained in Massachusetts and taught at Agawam High School for the next five years. While at Agawam, he took on the head soccer coaching duties where he led the team to its first ever, state championship tournament.During this time, Paul was also the head coach of the girl's varsity track team, which is a program that he inaugurated at the school. He moved to Nasson College in Maine, where he worked with Bob Reasso in building the soccer program there. While at Nasson, Paul was also the head basketball coach and athletic director. He then joined Reasso at Rutgers in 1981.

At Rutgers, Paul has been the goalkeeper coach during the school's most successful years, and was instrumental in developing the team into one of the top Division I programs in the country; 11 NCAA appearances, 3 Final Four tournaments, 6 Conference Championships during the 1990's, including the Big East Championship in 1999 (the first ever for Rutgers in any sport in the Big East Conference).

Paul's coaching at Rutgers has included two All-Americans in Billy Andracki (presently with the Rochester Rhinos) and Jon Conway (presently with the San Jose Earthquakes). Paul also trained Saskia Weber, who was an All-American at Rutgers, and who was a member of the Woman's National Team that won the World Cup. Five other goalkeepers at Rutgers achieved All-Region honors, and many of them went on to play professionally.

The list of keepers with whom Paul has worked is continuing to grow impressively. Keepers who have an interest in competing at the highest levels have been gravitating to him as a resource in their final preparations for their upcoming seasons. Paul has helped the likes of Billy Gaudette of the Columbus Crew in such preparations. Most notably of late is the association with Karina LeBlanc, the Canadian Women’s National Team Goalkeeper. Karina is one of the top woman goalkeepers in the world and she and Paul have established a relationship that has extended in bringing the best in knowledge to keepers of New Jersey. Karina was the league’s Top Goalkeeper in the W-League in 2005 and she captained her team, the NJ Wildcats, to its first National Championship. Paul was the goalkeeper trainer for Wildcats in ‘05, a team ranked among the top in the world.

Paul has added his involvement at the state level as he has been named the Director of Goalkeeping for Girls for NJYS. He is also the NJ State Director for the NGWA (National Goalie War Association). Many young coaches, who have an interest in training keepers have established relationships with Paul as a means of gaining knowledge and respect in teaching the position, notably Ryan Hayward, of The College of New Jersey and Rob Nydick, of East Stroudsburg University, both of whom are outstanding coaches. Coach Blodgett is in demand for clinics at all levels and he has dedicated his work to bring the respect for the position to a level that is worthy.

Paul has trained numerous high school goalkeepers throughout New Jersey, many of whom have helped their teams to successful seasons and many of whom have gone on to compete at the collegiate level. His involvement in training goalkeepers of club teams is extensive throughout the state, as well, including The PDA, Scotch Plains/Fanwood SC, South Brunswick Soccer Club, Westfield Soccer Club and teams in Hunterdon County.

Coach Blodgett is a holder of a USSF “B” license and the National “Y” license from US Youth Soccer. His greatest attributes are his unique ability to relate to keepers of all ages, his motivational skills and his positive energy and enthusiasm. He is highly respected by both players and coaches of all levels.