Mike Paxson
Mike Paxson, also known as Michael Paxson, is an American professional paintball player and coach best known for his career with the Los Angeles Ironmen. He began playing paintball in 1992 and entered professional competition with the California Bushwackers in 2000, subsequently representing Chicago Aftershock and Las Vegas LTZ before joining the Ironmen in 2007.[1][2]
Paxson was a member of the Ironmen during their consecutive Paintball World Cup and National Xball League (NXL) championship victories in 2007 and 2008. He later returned to the organisation as assistant coach in 2023.[2][3]
Alongside his professional playing career, Paxson co-founded Destiny Paintball with Bea Paxson, supporting the development of women's tournament paintball and organising coaching clinics for amateur players.[4][5]
Early career
[edit]Paxson began playing paintball in 1992, after being introduced to the sport by a cousin at SC Village in Southern California. He was 15 years old at the time.[1]
He subsequently joined the California Bushwackers, a tournament team led by Ron Kilbourne.
Paxson credited Kilbourne and teammate Jose Palma with influencing his early development as a competitive player.[1]
The Bushwackers entered professional competition in 2000, marking the beginning of Paxson's professional career.[2]
By July 2003, Paxson was an established Bushwackers player and participated as an instructor at a paintball training camp organised by Ronn Stern.
The camp included specialist coaching in back-player positioning, communication and equipment maintenance. Paxson also instructed participants in the maintenance of Autococker markers supplied by team sponsor Worr Game Products.[6]
Professional career
[edit]Chicago Aftershock and Las Vegas LTZ
[edit]Following his time with the Bushwackers, Paxson joined Chicago Aftershock.
His involvement with Aftershock is documented in contemporary coverage of the 2004 Ultimate Madness tournament, where he participated in an individual competition.[7]
Paxson subsequently played for Las Vegas LTZ before joining the Los Angeles Ironmen in 2007.[1]
Los Angeles Ironmen
[edit]Paxson joined the Los Angeles Ironmen in 2007, beginning a longstanding association with the professional team.
The Ironmen won the 2007 NXL World Cup championship and successfully defended their title in 2008.
Both victories also contributed to consecutive NXL season championships.
Paxson documented the team's 2007 and 2008 World Cup and NXL championship victories in a February 2009 article on his personal paintball blog.[3]
He continued representing the Ironmen during subsequent professional seasons.
Paxson was named on the team's official 2016 roster alongside players including Shane Pestana, Scott Kemp, Bobby Aviles, Jerry Caro and Danny Ibarra.[8]
He also appeared on the published 2017 roster, which was coached by Todd Martinez.[9]
During his Ironmen career, Paxson was particularly associated with back-player and support positions, although contemporary player interviews also described his ability to compete in other positions.[1][10]
Coaching career
[edit]Destiny Paintball
[edit]Paxson co-founded Destiny Paintball in 2004 with Bea Paxson, then known as Bea Youngs.
The organisation was originally established as an all-female tournament team and subsequently competed with predominantly female rosters in national and regional competition.
Destiny won an NPPL San Diego Super 7 divisional championship in 2006.[4]
Paxson served as a coach and co-owner of the organisation while continuing his professional playing career.
Following a period away from national competition, Destiny returned in 2012, with Paxson assisting in player development, training and tournament preparation.[4]
The organisation also supported participation by women in the sport through coaching clinics and regional development programmes.
In 2013, Paxson organised additional training opportunities for female players, including tryouts for Destiny's Florida programme.[5]
Paintball clinics
[edit]Paxson has worked as a paintball instructor and coach at training events in the United States.
In July 2003, he participated in Ronn Stern's paintball camp alongside instructors including Rocky Cagnoni and Bea Youngs.[6]
He subsequently organised clinics with Cagnoni, including a two-day event at Adrenaline Sports in Dalton, Georgia, in March 2009.[3]
Paxson also published instructional articles addressing team management, sponsorship and the organisation of competitive paintball teams.[11]
Return to Ironmen coaching
[edit]In late 2022, DYE Paintball announced that Paxson and Shane Pestana would return to the Los Angeles Ironmen coaching staff for the 2023 NXL season.
Pestana was appointed head coach, with Paxson serving as assistant coach.
Nikki McEvers, who had previously served as head coach, moved into a dedicated analytics role.[12]
The appointments were confirmed in DYE's official 2023 Ironmen team announcement.[13]
Paxson remained involved in the team's coaching programme during subsequent seasons.
Official PBLeagues records list him and Pestana as coaches for the Ironmen at the 2025 NXL Atlantic City Open.[14]
In 2026, DYE continued to identify Paxson as part of the Ironmen coaching staff in its announcement concerning the recruitment of CJ Canter and Jesse Stephens.[15]
Selected achievements
[edit]| Year | Achievement | Team |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | NXL World Cup championship | Los Angeles Ironmen |
| 2007 | NXL season championship | Los Angeles Ironmen |
| 2008 | NXL World Cup championship | Los Angeles Ironmen |
| 2008 | NXL season championship | Los Angeles Ironmen |
The championship achievements are documented in contemporary and retrospective accounts of Paxson's Ironmen career.[2][3]
See also
[edit]- Los Angeles Ironmen
- Chicago Aftershock
- Shane Pestana
- Billy Wing
- Bea Paxson
- Paintball World Cup
- National Xball League
References
[edit]- Zen and the Art of Paintball, "Gun Fu – Episode #3", 21 September 2016. Interview documenting Paxson's entry into paintball, early influences, professional teams and playing career.
- Paintball Nerd, "Fun Five Interview with Mike Paxson", 20 January 2023. Career retrospective covering the Bushwackers, Aftershock, Las Vegas LTZ, Ironmen championships and coaching.
- Mike Paxson, "Ironmen's Mike Paxson 100% Paintballer", 19 February 2009. Personal account documenting the 2007 and 2008 World Cup and NXL championship victories, and contemporary coaching activities.
- Social Paintball, "The Girls of Destiny are Back!", 21 May 2012. History of Destiny Paintball, its formation, achievements and involvement of Mike and Bea Paxson.
- Social Paintball, Bea Paxson, "Two Mike Paxson Events: 3-Man Shoot Out & Clinic", 30 December 2013.
- WARPIG, "Ronn Stern Paintball Camp", July 2003. Contemporary report documenting Paxson's participation as a Bushwackers player and instructor.
- WARPIG, "Ultimate Madness IV", April 2004. Contemporary tournament coverage identifying Paxson with Chicago Aftershock.
- DYE Paintball, "Ironmen 2016 Roster", 17 March 2016.
- DYE Paintball, "Ironmen 2017 Roster", 2017.
- Social Paintball, Handy Tims, "Paintball Legends Series – Mike Paxson", 8 June 2012. Player profile documenting Paxson's Ironmen career, coaching and involvement with Destiny.
- Social Paintball, Mike Paxson, "Paxson's Pages: Starting a Paintball Team and Obtaining Sponsorships", 14 August 2012.
- DYE Paintball, "Pestana & Paxson Return to Ironmen". Official announcement of the 2023 coaching appointments.
- DYE Paintball, "2023 Team Ironmen". Official roster and coaching staff announcement.
- PBLeagues, "Los Angeles Ironmen at NXL Atlantic City Open 2025". Official tournament roster identifying Michael Paxson as a coach.
- DYE Paintball, "Canter & Stephens Join the Ironmen", 2026. Manufacturer announcement identifying the Ironmen coaching staff.