Category:Paintball people

Paul DeZarn: A Paintball Career Spanning More Than Four Decades

From the Backwoods of Springboro to Championship Paintball

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 already part of the generation helping shape competitive paintball.

His journey began with the Diehards, 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.

What started as a group of players competing on local fields would become a lifelong commitment to the sport.

The Playing Years: Building a Legacy on the Field

Throughout his playing career, Paul competed with a succession of teams that helped define his journey through the evolution of competitive paintball.

His career included the Diehards, Crow Warriors, Zero Tolerance, Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion, and Ohio Black Rain (OBR), the last professional team for which he played.

During one important chapter, Paul and Eric Comrie left Detroit Fusion and formed Method. The team went on to achieve considerable success. Paul subsequently returned to Freak Factory before eventually returning to Detroit Fusion as a professional player. Eric and several of the Freak Factory players joined Detroit Fusion the following season.

These years took place during a very different era of paintball. Paul competed before the APPA classification and ranking systems became established features of the sport. His playing career was built during a time when reputations were earned through competition, performance, and results on the field.

After his professional career concluded, Paul continued to guest-play on occasion. Although his days as a full-time professional player were behind him, his involvement in paintball was far from over.

He was preparing for a different kind of challenge: building successful teams from the sidelines.

From Player to Coach: Vintage and the MSXL

Paul continued his involvement in competitive paintball as a coach, working with a team called Vintage in the MSXL.

That experience helped establish the foundation for his next major chapter. His knowledge of the game, competitive experience, and understanding of what it takes to build a successful team made him a valuable resource beyond his playing ability.

Then Danny Manning approached him about returning to paintball to coach and manage Brimstone Smoke.

Around 2017–2018, that opportunity marked the beginning of a new era in Paul’s career.

Brimstone Smoke: Building a Championship Organization

When Paul returned to a leadership role with Brimstone Smoke, he brought decades of competitive experience and a deep understanding of the sport. His mission extended beyond winning individual tournaments. It was about developing players, building roster depth, establishing accountability, and creating a program capable of competing for championships year after year.

Since 2018, Paul has helped lead Brimstone Smoke through numerous tournament victories and championship performances across multiple divisions and formats.

The program has grown into a competitive organization with opportunities for players at different levels, competing in both the ICPL and NXL.

Among the team’s major accomplishments are:

• 2025 Classic Cup Champions
• 2026 Classic Cup Champions, securing back-to-back titles
• 2026 Free Flow Open Champions in New York
• 2026 ICPL Pro Division: Third place overall
• Continued competition across multiple formats, with further opportunities to contend for event victories and series championships

These accomplishments reflect the collective work of the players, staff, ownership, and everyone who has contributed to the program.

Paul’s role has been to help create the environment in which that success becomes possible: developing talent, building confidence, establishing communication, and ensuring that the team understands what it takes to compete at a championship level.

Ownership, Partnership, and Family

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 history is remembered with respect.

Brimstone Smoke has become more than a tournament team. It is an organization built around relationships, shared responsibility, and the pursuit of excellence.

The principles behind the program are reflected in its values: Communication, Commitment, Connection, and Confidence.

For Paul, success is not simply measured by trophies or championship rings. It is also measured by the players who develop under the program, the relationships formed along the way, and the culture established through shared adversity and achievement.

The Next Chapter: NXL World Cup 2026

Following the 2026 Classic Cup Championship, Brimstone Smoke is preparing for the NXL World Cup, where the organization plans to compete in the three-, five-, seven-, and ten-player formats.

With opportunities to contend for additional tournament victories and series championships, World Cup represents another chance for the organization to demonstrate the depth and competitiveness it has worked to build.

For Paul, it is another chapter in a career that began more than four decades ago.

A Career That Continues to Evolve

From a backwoods lot in Springboro, Ohio, in 1983, to the professional ranks with teams including Method, Freak Factory, Detroit Fusion, and Ohio Black Rain, Paul DeZarn has experienced paintball through multiple generations of the sport.

He has competed as a player, coached teams in the MSXL, and helped build Brimstone Smoke into a championship organization.

His career reflects more than longevity. It reflects the ability to adapt, take on new challenges, develop others, and continue contributing to the sport long after his own professional playing days ended.

More than 40 years after he first picked up a paintball marker, Paul DeZarn remains an active competitor in the broader world of paintball through his leadership, coaching, and ownership of Brimstone Smoke.

His story is not simply about the years he spent playing the game. It is about a lifetime devoted to the sport — and the championships, relationships, and legacy he continues to build.