Along with his having compiled a 44-0-1 record at Tuscaloosa High School from 1925 to 1929, Paul Burnum had an outstanding record as a freshman football coach at the University of Alabama. Among his accomplishments was recruiting young Paul "Bear" Bryant, Dixie Howell and Don Hutson to play at Alabama.

Paul F. Burnum was born February 6, 1900 in Cullman, Alabama. After graduating from the University of Alabama, he coached at Clio for a year in 1924 with a record of 6-1-2. In 1925 he went to coach at Tuscaloosa High.

It began in 1925 in Burnums first season as head coach at Tuscaloosa. The team had been mediocre the past few seasons but immediately began to win.

They finished the 1925 season with a record of 8-0-1 with the 7-7 tie coming to a powerful and undefeated Cullman team that allowed only two touchdowns all season. Cullman scored late in the fourth quarter to tie the game.

During the next four seasons Burnum would guide the Black Bears to consecutive 9-0 records. The 1926 team would outscore their opponents 532-16. In 1926 Burnun started a series of games against some of the best teams across the country. They defeated Senn High School of Chicago 42-0 in a gamed billed as a national championship game.

Paul Burnum died on September 14, 1981. Coach Burnum was inducted into the High School Sports Hall of Fame and the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame.