Before he joined the NFL, Paul played college football and basketball at the University of South Dakota. He was later inducted into the Coyote Sports Hall of Fame in 1973. He then became the 20th head college football coach for the Wabash College Little Giants located in Crawfordsville, Indiana and he held that position for two seasons, from 1915 until 1916. His career coaching record at Wabash was 14 wins, 2 losses, and 1 ties. This ranks him 11th at Wabash in total wins and third at Wabash in winning percentage (.853). While at Wabash, Sheeks was also coached the basketball team, from 1916 to 1917. In just one year of coaching Sheeks led Wabash to a 19-2 record.