Built, Not Born

More Than Muscle: The Impact of Coach Paxton Paynter at O’Dea High School SEATTLE- The weight room at O’Dea High School isn’t just a place to lift. It’s where guys get pushed, learn discipline, and figure out what it really takes to improve. Strength and Conditioning Coach Paxton Paynter, better known as Coach P, plays a huge role in that. His impact shows up far beyond gamedays. 

Paynter’s main goal is to build strong, durable athletes who can handle adversity. He talks a lot about consistency and accountability, teaching athletes that success doesn’t come from talent alone. Instead, it comes from daily habits and effort. As Coach P explains, “I truly believe that the guys that take that ownership, those who prioritize sleep, hydration, nutrition, they're consistent, showing up every day, and have a good attitude. Those guys normally excel during games.”

Because of this approach, O’Dea athletes are more prepared, both physically and mentally, when it matters most, and leads to more success on gameday. 

One of the biggest improvements Paynter sees consistently in athletes is confidence. As players commit to the program, they begin to believe in themselves and develop strong work ethics. That confidence usually carries over to better performance during games and stronger leadership off it. Paynter emphasizes that the athletes who improve the most aren’t always the most gifted, but the ones willing to show up daily to put in the work. 

When designing workouts, Coach P focuses on building a strong foundation. Most freshmen come into high school lacking strength in their posterior chain, which are the muscles that help you when it comes to running, jumping, and keeping you healthy. Because of this, most athletes train similarly early on, no matter what sport they play. By strengthening those areas, athletes become more robust and better able to handle the demands of their sport throughout the season. 

Over time, Paynter has seen major transformations, especially from the guys who fully commit to the program over four years. Many of these athletes are not highly recruited or labeled as stars, but their motivation and consistency lead to significant growth. He says watching that transformation, both physically and mentally, is one of the best parts of his job. 

However, Paynter makes it clear that his program is about more than sports. He wants his athletes to leave O’Dea as confident, disciplined young men ready for real life challenges.

“I don’t want you guys just to be great athletes, but great young men, and have an impact on society,” he says. He also states “You can cry, you can puke, you can scream, I don't care. What I do care about is, you don't give up.” He pushes athletes to believe in themselves, stay accountable, and lead by example.  

Paynter waits to measure success by what happens after you graduate. When former athletes return and tell him how his lessons have helped them in college, sports, or life, that matters more to him than any weight room record. He values character over numbers and takes pride in the relationships he builds at O’Dea. 

That’s something alumni like Davian Sherlock (Class of 2025) understand well. Now playing football at Diablo Valley College, Sherlock said, “Coach P helped me get bigger, stronger, and faster, but more than that, he taught me lifelong lessons about being on time, taking things seriously, and knowing when to lock in.” It’s clear that Paynter is more than just a weight room guy, he continues to leave a mark on O’Dea athletes long after they leave the gym.