Paul DeZarn: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 12:00, 28 October 2026

Paul DeZarn is a paintball coach, team owner and former tournament player associated with Brimstone Smoke, also known as Team Smoke. His career has included competitive playing, coaching and team management. Official tournament rosters document his coaching role with Smoke during its participation in the International Classic Paintball League (ICPL).[1][2][3]

A biographical account supplied to WikiPaintball dates DeZarn's involvement in paintball to 1983. It describes a playing career with several American teams, followed by coaching Vintage and later becoming a coach, manager and co-owner of Brimstone Smoke.[1]

Playing career

Early paintball

According to the supplied biographical account, DeZarn began playing in 1983 on a wooded lot in Springboro, Ohio. His early tournament involvement was with the Dyehards, who competed in a league associated with the Dayton All-Stars. The account also records participation in an early championship tournament at Morrow, Ohio.[1]

His subsequent teams included the Crow Warriors, Zero Tolerance, Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion and Ohio Black Reign (OBR).[1]

Method, Freak Factory and Detroit Fusion

The biographical account describes DeZarn and Eric Hamre leaving Detroit Fusion to establish Method. Following his time with Method, DeZarn returned to Freak Factory and subsequently rejoined Detroit Fusion as a professional player.[1]

Hamre and several Freak Factory players joined Detroit Fusion the following season, according to the same account. It does not provide dates for these transfers or a complete tournament record for Method.[1]

Ohio Black Reign was identified as DeZarn's final professional team. After leaving regular professional competition, he continued to make occasional guest appearances as a player.[1]

Coaching and team management

Vintage

After his principal playing career, DeZarn coached Vintage in the MSXL. This period preceded his later involvement in the management of Brimstone Smoke.[1]

Joining Brimstone Smoke

The supplied biography credits Danny Manning with approaching DeZarn about coaching and managing Brimstone Smoke around 2017 or 2018. It describes DeZarn subsequently taking responsibility for player development, roster preparation and the team's competitive programme.[1]

DeZarn's later coaching involvement is independently documented. PBLeagues identifies him as a checked-in coach on Team Smoke's roster for the 2025 Classic Cup and on Brimstone Smoke's roster for the 2026 Windy City Classic.[2][3]

The team's official website also includes DeZarn among its personnel. Player Cody Szmik's published profile names DeZarn, Anthony Call and Danny Manning among his coaches at Team Smoke.[4]

Ownership and approach

The October 2026 biographical account identifies DeZarn as a co-owner of Brimstone Smoke alongside members of the Call family. It describes his responsibilities as extending beyond match coaching to developing players, maintaining roster depth and preparing the organisation to compete in several formats.[1]

The account identifies communication, commitment, connection and confidence as principles of his approach to team management. It also emphasises shared responsibility among players, coaches and supporting personnel.[1]

Classic tournament competition

2025 Classic Cup

Team Smoke won the professional ten-player division at the 2025 ICPL Classic Cup, finishing ahead of Image and Chicago Aftershock. DeZarn was registered as a coach for the event.[2][5][6]

The tournament victory was separate from the season championship. Team Smoke finished fourth in the overall 2025 professional ten-player standings with 265 ranking points, while Chicago Aftershock won the series.[5]

2026 season

Competing as Brimstone Smoke, the team finished fifth at the 2026 Golden State Classic, fourth at the Windy City Classic and second at the Pittsburgh Open Classic before winning the Classic Cup.[7]

The Classic Cup victory was the team's second consecutive professional ten-player title at that event. The official rankings placed Chicago Aftershock second and the All Americans third.[5][7]

Brimstone Smoke finished second in the 2026 ICPL professional ten-player season standings with 286 points. Chicago Aftershock won with 292. The All Americans also scored 286 points but were placed third in the published standings.[7]

The season calculation counted each team's three highest event scores. Smoke's counted results were its fourth place at the Windy City Classic, second at Pittsburgh and first at the Classic Cup.[7]

Selected team achievements

These are results achieved by Brimstone Smoke during DeZarn's coaching and management involvement, rather than individual playing titles.

Year	Competition	Division	Team name recorded	Result
2025	ICPL Classic Cup	Professional ten-player	Team Smoke	1st.[2][5]
2026	ICPL Pittsburgh Open Classic	Professional ten-player	Brimstone Smoke	2nd.[7]
2026	ICPL Classic Cup	Professional ten-player	Brimstone Smoke	1st.[7]
2026	ICPL season standings	Professional ten-player	Brimstone Smoke	2nd, with 286 ranking points.[7]

World Cup plans

The supplied October 2026 biography described preparations for the NXL World Cup, with intended entries in three-player, five-player, seven-player and ten-player formats. These were stated plans rather than completed tournament results.[1]

References

Paul DeZarn: More Than Four Decades in Paintball. Biographical account supplied to WikiPaintball, October 2026. Unpublished contributor material covering DeZarn's early playing career, coaching, recruitment to Brimstone Smoke, ownership and future plans. These details are attributed to the account rather than independently established tournament records.
Team Smoke at Classic Cup. PBLeagues, 2025 tournament roster. Identifies Paul DeZarn as a checked-in coach.
Brimstone Smoke at Windy City Classic. PBLeagues, 2026 tournament roster. Identifies Paul DeZarn as a checked-in coach.
Player Profiles. Team Smoke Paintball, official personnel profiles. Includes DeZarn and Cody Szmik's account of his coaches. Accessed 28 October 2026.
International Classic Paintball League: 2025 Season Rankings. PBLeagues, official event and season standings.
Team Smoke Wins ICPL Classic Cup!. Brandon Olson, Paintball Dirt, 6 October 2025.
International Classic Paintball League: 2026 Season Rankings. PBLeagues, official event and season standings.

External links

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-Paul DeZarn began playing paintball in 1983 on a backwoods lot in Springboro, Ohio, when the sport was still in its infancy. Long before modern professional leagues, standardized player classifications, and ranking systems, Paul was part of the generation that helped shape competitive paintball.
+'''Paul DeZarn''' is a [[paintball]] coach, team owner and former tournament player associated with [[Brimstone Smoke]], also known as '''Team Smoke'''. His career has included competitive playing, coaching and team management. Official tournament rosters document his coaching role with Smoke during its participation in the [[International Classic Paintball League]] (ICPL).[1][2][3]
-His journey began with the Dyehards, a team competing in a league associated with the Dayton All-Stars. That early chapter included participation in one of the sport’s first world championships, held in Morrow, Ohio.
+A biographical account supplied to WikiPaintball dates DeZarn's involvement in paintball to 1983. It describes a playing career with several American teams, followed by coaching Vintage and later becoming a coach, manager and co-owner of Brimstone Smoke.[1]
-What started with a group of players competing on local fields became a lifelong commitment to the sport. Over the next four decades, Paul would experience paintball from nearly every perspective: player, professional competitor, coach, manager, and team owner.
+== Playing career ==
-The Playing Years: Building a Legacy on the Field
+=== Early paintball ===
-Throughout his playing career, Paul competed with a succession of teams that carried him through different eras of competitive paintball.
+According to the supplied biographical account, DeZarn began playing in 1983 on a wooded lot in Springboro, Ohio. His early tournament involvement was with the Dyehards, who competed in a league associated with the Dayton All-Stars. The account also records participation in an early championship tournament at Morrow, Ohio.[1]
-His playing journey included the Dyehards, Crow Warriors, Zero Tolerance, Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion, and Ohio Black Rain (OBR), the last professional team for which he played.
+His subsequent teams included the Crow Warriors, Zero Tolerance, Method, Freak Factory, [[Detroit Fusion]] and [[Ohio Black Reign]] (OBR).[1]
-One important chapter began when Paul and Eric Hamre left Detroit Fusion to create Method. The two went on to achieve considerable competitive success together.
+=== Method, Freak Factory and Detroit Fusion ===
-Following that chapter, Paul returned to Freak Factory. He later returned to Detroit Fusion as a professional player. Eric Hamre and several of the Freak Factory players joined Detroit Fusion the following season.
+The biographical account describes DeZarn and Eric Hamre leaving Detroit Fusion to establish Method. Following his time with Method, DeZarn returned to Freak Factory and subsequently rejoined Detroit Fusion as a professional player.[1]
-These years unfolded during a very different era of paintball. Paul competed before the APPA player classification and ranking systems became established features of the sport. His professional career developed during a time when reputations were built through competition, performance, and results on the field rather than the formal ranking structures familiar to later generations.
+Hamre and several Freak Factory players joined Detroit Fusion the following season, according to the same account. It does not provide dates for these transfers or a complete tournament record for Method.[1]
-After his professional career ended with Ohio Black Rain, Paul continued to guest-play on occasion. Although he had stepped away from full-time professional competition, his involvement in paintball was far from over.
+Ohio Black Reign was identified as DeZarn's final professional team. After leaving regular professional competition, he continued to make occasional guest appearances as a player.[1]
-His next chapter would take him from the playing field to the sidelines, where he could apply decades of experience to developing other players and building competitive teams.
+== Coaching and team management ==
-From Player to Coach: Vintage and the MSXL
+=== Vintage ===
-Paul continued his involvement in competitive paintball by coaching a team called Vintage in the MSXL.
+After his principal playing career, DeZarn coached Vintage in the MSXL. This period preceded his later involvement in the management of Brimstone Smoke.[1]
-His playing experience, understanding of competitive strategy, and familiarity with the demands of tournament paintball provided a foundation for this next stage of his career.
+=== Joining Brimstone Smoke ===
-Coaching offered Paul a different opportunity to influence the game. Instead of relying on his own performance alone, he could help develop players, establish team systems, build confidence, and bring people together around a common objective.
+The supplied biography credits Danny Manning with approaching DeZarn about coaching and managing Brimstone Smoke around 2017 or 2018. It describes DeZarn subsequently taking responsibility for player development, roster preparation and the team's competitive programme.[1]
-That experience helped set the stage for his return to a larger leadership role in the sport.
+DeZarn's later coaching involvement is independently documented. PBLeagues identifies him as a checked-in coach on Team Smoke's roster for the 2025 Classic Cup and on Brimstone Smoke's roster for the 2026 Windy City Classic.[2][3]
-The Return: Danny Manning and Brimstone Smoke
+The team's official website also includes DeZarn among its personnel. Player Cody Szmik's published profile names DeZarn, Anthony Call and Danny Manning among his coaches at Team Smoke.[4]
-Around 2017–2018, Danny Manning approached Paul about returning to paintball to coach and manage Brimstone Smoke.
+=== Ownership and approach ===
-That opportunity marked the beginning of a new era in Paul’s career.
+The October 2026 biographical account identifies DeZarn as a co-owner of Brimstone Smoke alongside members of the Call family. It describes his responsibilities as extending beyond match coaching to developing players, maintaining roster depth and preparing the organisation to compete in several formats.[1]
-Returning not simply as a player but as a coach, manager, and organizational leader, Paul brought decades of competitive experience to the program. His mission extended beyond winning individual tournaments. He wanted to develop players, build roster depth, establish accountability, and create an organization capable of competing for championships year after year.
+The account identifies communication, commitment, connection and confidence as principles of his approach to team management. It also emphasises shared responsibility among players, coaches and supporting personnel.[1]
-Since 2018, Paul has helped lead Brimstone Smoke through numerous tournament victories and championship performances across multiple divisions and formats.
+== Classic tournament competition ==
-The journey has required more than tactical knowledge. It has demanded leadership, adaptability, player development, and the ability to maintain a competitive culture through adversity, roster changes, and the pressures of tournament competition.
+=== 2025 Classic Cup ===
-Brimstone Smoke: Building a Championship Organization
+Team Smoke won the professional ten-player division at the 2025 ICPL Classic Cup, finishing ahead of Image and [[Chicago Aftershock]]. DeZarn was registered as a coach for the event.[2][5][6]
-Under Paul’s leadership, Brimstone Smoke has developed into a competitive program participating across the ICPL and NXL, with players competing in multiple formats and divisions.
+The tournament victory was separate from the season championship. Team Smoke finished fourth in the overall 2025 professional ten-player standings with 265 ranking points, while Chicago Aftershock won the series.[5]
-Among the organization’s significant accomplishments are:
+=== 2026 season ===
-* 2025 Classic Cup Champions
+Competing as Brimstone Smoke, the team finished fifth at the 2026 Golden State Classic, fourth at the Windy City Classic and second at the Pittsburgh Open Classic before winning the Classic Cup.[7]
-* 2026 Classic Cup Champions, securing back-to-back titles
-* 2026 Free Flow Open Champions in New York
-* 2026 ICPL Pro Division: Second place overall
-* Continued competition across three-, five-, seven-, and ten-player formats, with opportunities to pursue additional tournament victories and series championships
-The 2026 season demonstrated the program’s ability to compete against established teams and perform under pressure. Winning the Free Flow Open and successfully defending the Classic Cup title added further milestones to the organization’s history.
+The Classic Cup victory was the team's second consecutive professional ten-player title at that event. The official rankings placed Chicago Aftershock second and the All Americans third.[5][7]
-Finishing second place overall in the 2026 ICPL Pro Division was another significant accomplishment, reflecting the program’s ability to compete at the highest level of ICPL competition.
+Brimstone Smoke finished second in the 2026 ICPL professional ten-player season standings with 286 points. Chicago Aftershock won with 292. The All Americans also scored 286 points but were placed third in the published standings.[7]
-The 2026 Classic Cup Championship was especially meaningful. Winning consecutive titles reflected the work required to sustain a competitive program and return to the field prepared to defend a championship.
+The season calculation counted each team's three highest event scores. Smoke's counted results were its fourth place at the Windy City Classic, second at Pittsburgh and first at the Classic Cup.[7]
-These accomplishments belong to the entire organization: the players, coaches, staff, ownership, sponsors, families, and supporters who contribute to its success.
+=== Selected team achievements ===
-Paul’s role is to help bring those elements together. His focus is on creating an environment where talent can develop, teammates can trust one another, and individual ability becomes collective performance.
+These are results achieved by Brimstone Smoke during DeZarn's coaching and management involvement, rather than individual playing titles.
-For Paul, building a championship organization means developing more than a starting lineup. It means creating depth, preparing people for different roles, and establishing a culture capable of enduring the challenges of a long season.
+{| class="wikitable"
+! Year
+! Competition
+! Division
+! Team name recorded
+! Result
+|-
+| 2025
+| ICPL Classic Cup
+| Professional ten-player
+| Team Smoke
+| 1st.[2][5]
+|-
+| 2026
+| ICPL Pittsburgh Open Classic
+| Professional ten-player
+| Brimstone Smoke
+| 2nd.[7]
+|-
+| 2026
+| ICPL Classic Cup
+| Professional ten-player
+| Brimstone Smoke
+| 1st.[7]
+|-
+| 2026
+| ICPL season standings
+| Professional ten-player
+| Brimstone Smoke
+| 2nd, with 286 ranking points.[7]
+|}
-Ownership, Partnership, and Family
+=== World Cup plans ===
-Paul remains actively involved in Brimstone Smoke as an owner alongside Anthony Call and Jonathan Call. Milt Call also remains part of the organization’s ownership legacy. Though Milt has passed away, his place in the team’s story is remembered with respect.
+The supplied October 2026 biography described preparations for the [[Paintball World Cup|NXL World Cup]], with intended entries in three-player, five-player, seven-player and ten-player formats. These were stated plans rather than completed tournament results.[1]
-Brimstone Smoke has become more than a collection of players assembled for tournaments. It is an organization built around relationships, shared responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence.
+== See also ==
-Its guiding principles include Communication, Commitment, Connection, and Confidence.
+* [[Brimstone Smoke]]
+* [[Detroit Fusion]]
+* [[Ohio Black Reign]]
+* [[International Classic Paintball League]]
+* [[National Xball League]]
-Those principles reflect Paul’s broader approach to competitive paintball. Success requires players to communicate effectively, commit to the work, connect as teammates, and develop the confidence to perform when the pressure is greatest.
+== References ==
-For Paul, success is not measured solely by trophies and championship rings. It is also measured by the players who develop within the program, the relationships formed along the way, and the culture established through shared adversity and achievement.
+# ''Paul DeZarn: More Than Four Decades in Paintball''. Biographical account supplied to WikiPaintball, October 2026. Unpublished contributor material covering DeZarn's early playing career, coaching, recruitment to Brimstone Smoke, ownership and future plans. These details are attributed to the account rather than independently established tournament records.
+# [https://pbleagues.com/team/roster/NYy8yp6qExuuWHxV Team Smoke at Classic Cup]. PBLeagues, 2025 tournament roster. Identifies Paul DeZarn as a checked-in coach.
+# [https://mlpb.pbleagues.com/team/roster/mGfqL1wk6Q7oVfbb Brimstone Smoke at Windy City Classic]. PBLeagues, 2026 tournament roster. Identifies Paul DeZarn as a checked-in coach.
+# [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/blog/portfolio-category/player-profiles/ Player Profiles]. Team Smoke Paintball, official personnel profiles. Includes DeZarn and Cody Szmik's account of his coaches. Accessed 28 October 2026.
+# [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2025 International Classic Paintball League: 2025 Season Rankings]. PBLeagues, official event and season standings.
+# [https://paintballdirt.substack.com/p/weekly-newsletter-team-smoke-wins Team Smoke Wins ICPL Classic Cup!]. Brandon Olson, ''Paintball Dirt'', 6 October 2025.
+# [https://pbleagues.com/league/435/seasonRankings/2026 International Classic Paintball League: 2026 Season Rankings]. PBLeagues, official event and season standings.
-The objective is to build something that lasts: an organization capable of developing talent, competing at a high level, and creating opportunities for players to contribute to something larger than themselves.
+== External links ==
-The Next Chapter: NXL World Cup 2026
+* [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/ Team Smoke official website]
+* [https://teamsmokepaintball.com/programs/ Team Smoke personnel]
-Following the 2026 Classic Cup Championship, Brimstone Smoke is preparing for the NXL World Cup, with plans to compete in the three-, five-, seven-, and ten-player formats.
+[[Category:Paintball players]]
+[[Category:Paintball coaches]]
-The organization is also pursuing opportunities to contend for additional tournament victories and series championships.
+[[Category:Paintball entrepreneurs]]
+[[Category:Paintball people]]
-World Cup represents another opportunity to demonstrate the depth, preparation, and competitiveness that the program has worked to build.
-For Paul, this is not the beginning of a new relationship with paintball. It is the continuation of a journey that began in 1983 and has evolved through every major stage of his life in the sport.
-The equipment has changed. The fields have changed. The leagues and competitive structures have changed. But the fundamental challenge remains the same: bring talented people together, prepare them to compete, and give them the opportunity to achieve something extraordinary as a team.
-A Career That Continues to Evolve
-Paul DeZarn’s paintball career spans more than four decades, beginning on a backwoods lot in Springboro, Ohio, and progressing through the Dyehards, Crow Warriors, Zero Tolerance, Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion, and Ohio Black Rain.
-He competed during the formative years of the sport, played professionally, continued participating after his professional career, coached Vintage in the MSXL, and eventually returned to help lead Brimstone Smoke.
-His journey illustrates the many ways a person can contribute to a sport over a lifetime. A player can become a coach. A coach can become an organizational leader. And a leader can continue building championship teams long after his own professional playing days have ended.
-Today, Paul remains actively involved in competitive paintball as an owner, coach, and leader of Brimstone Smoke. His experience connects the early days of the sport to its modern competitive landscape.
-More than 40 years after he first picked up a paintball marker, Paul DeZarn is still helping develop players, build teams, and pursue championships.
-His story is not simply about the years he spent playing paintball. It is about a lifetime devoted to the sport, the people who have shared that journey, and the championship legacy he continues to build.

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