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Don Coryell Don Coryell debuted on the National Football League scene in 1973 when he was named the head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. His road to the NFL included a lengthy coaching career at the high school and college levels. Just prior to taking the Cardinals position he had served as the head coach at San Diego State from 1961 to 1972. When he took over the coaching reins in St. Louis, the Cardinals were a team that had not won a title of any kind since the 1948 season. That all changed quickly with Coryell at the helm. In his first season as the team’s new coach, St. Louis finished with a 4-9-1 record that was identical to the club’s records in the two seasons prior to Coryell’s arrival. But, that season laid the groundwork for what was to follow. In 1974, with a vastly improved offense, the Cardinals took the NFL by surprise. The “Big Red” won the NFC Eastern Division with a 10-4 record that included a 7-1 mark against their division opponents. The Cardinals followed that with an 11-3 mark the next season to claim its second consecutive division crown. St. Louis narrowly missed the playoffs in 1976 despite finishing 10-4. Coryell’s impressive record of 31-11 from 1974-76 marked the most successful three-year stretch in the franchise’s long history. Coryell took over as coach of the San Diego Chargers four games into the 1978 season when he again inherited a team that had not won a title in many years. The Chargers last division title came in 1965. He instantly installed a new explosive offense that soon was labeled “Air Coryell.” The record-setting offense was powered by Hall of Famers Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, and Kellen Winslow. The Chargers led the NFL in passing six straight seasons and amassed more than 24,000 yards from 1978 to 1983. Fouts blossomed in Coryell’s offense to become the first player in NFL history to record three straight 4,000-yard seasons. Coryell had succeeded in turning the Chargers into one of the NFL’s elite teams as evidenced by San Diego’s three straight AFC Western Division titles (1979-1981). Coryell, who was named the NFL and NFC Coach of the Year in 1974 and the AFC Coach of the Year in 1979, posted an overall record of 114-89-1.

Don Coryell - Pro Football Hall of Fame › assets › 1 › 6 › coryell-don-Red-book-bio.pdf · Cardinals (1973-1977) 42 27 1 .607 0 2 .000 42 29 1 .590 Chargers (1978-1986) 69

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  • Don Coryell

    Don Coryell debuted on the National Football League scene in 1973 when he was named the

    head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals. His road to the NFL included a lengthy coaching career at the

    high school and college levels. Just prior to taking the Cardinals position he had served as the head

    coach at San Diego State from 1961 to 1972.

    When he took over the coaching reins in St. Louis, the Cardinals were a team that had not

    won a title of any kind since the 1948 season. That all changed quickly with Coryell at the helm. In his

    first season as the team’s new coach, St. Louis finished with a 4-9-1 record that was identical to the

    club’s records in the two seasons prior to Coryell’s arrival. But, that season laid the groundwork for

    what was to follow. In 1974, with a vastly improved offense, the Cardinals took the NFL by surprise.

    The “Big Red” won the NFC Eastern Division with a 10-4 record that included a 7-1 mark against their

    division opponents. The Cardinals followed that with an 11-3 mark the next season to claim its second

    consecutive division crown. St. Louis narrowly missed the playoffs in 1976 despite finishing 10-4.

    Coryell’s impressive record of 31-11 from 1974-76 marked the most successful three-year stretch in

    the franchise’s long history.

    Coryell took over as coach of the San Diego Chargers four games into the 1978 season when

    he again inherited a team that had not won a title in many years. The Chargers last division title came

    in 1965. He instantly installed a new explosive offense that soon was labeled “Air Coryell.”

    The record-setting offense was powered by Hall of Famers Dan Fouts, Charlie Joiner, and

    Kellen Winslow. The Chargers led the NFL in passing six straight seasons and amassed more than

    24,000 yards from 1978 to 1983. Fouts blossomed in Coryell’s offense to become the first player in

    NFL history to record three straight 4,000-yard seasons. Coryell had succeeded in turning the

    Chargers into one of the NFL’s elite teams as evidenced by San Diego’s three straight AFC Western

    Division titles (1979-1981).

    Coryell, who was named the NFL and NFC Coach of the Year in 1974 and the AFC Coach of

    the Year in 1979, posted an overall record of 114-89-1.

  • Don Coryell

    Head Coach – Washington

    1973-77 St. Louis Cardinals, 1978-1986 San Diego Chargers (14 seasons)

    Biographical Background Full Name: Donald David Coryell Birthdate: October 17, 1924 Birthplace: Seattle, Washington Died: July 1, 2010 at La Mesa, California High School: Lincoln (Seattle, WA) Coaching Background: Assistant Coach at Punahou Academy (Honolulu), 1951 • Head Coach at Farrington High School (Honolulu), 1952 • Assistant Coach at University of Washington, 1953-54 • Head Coach at Wenatchee Valley JC, 1955 • Head Coach and Athletic Director at Ford Ord, (CA), 1956 • Head Coach at Whittier, 1957-59 • Assistant coach at University of Southern California, 1960 • Head Coach at San Diego State, 1961-1972. Coaching Record

    Regular Season Post-Season Overall

    Team Year W L T PCT. W L PCT. W L T PCT. St. Louis 1973 4 9 1 .321 St. Louis 1974 10 4 0 .714 0 1 St. Louis 1975 11 3 0 .786 0 1 St. Louis 1976 10 4 0 .714 St. Louis 1977 7 7 0 .500 San Diego 1978 8 4 0 .667 San Diego 1979 12 4 0 .750 0 1 San Diego 1980 11 5 0 .688 1 1 San Diego 1981 10 6 0 .625 1 1 San Diego 1982 6 3 0 .667 1 1 San Diego 1983 6 10 0 .375 San Diego 1984 7 9 0 .438 San Diego 1985 8 8 0 .500 San Diego 1986 1 7 0 .125

    TOT 111 83 1 .572 3 6 .333 114 89 1 .561

    Cardinals (1973-1977) 42 27 1 .607 0 2 .000 42 29 1 .590 Chargers (1978-1986) 69 56 0 .552 3 4 .429 72 60 0 .545

    Awards and Honors NFL Coach of the Year • 1974 (AP, SN, PW)

    NFC Coach of the Year • 1974 (UPI, PFWA)

    AFC Coach of the Year • 1979 (PFWA)

  • Don Coryell, Page 2 Championship Teams 1974 St. Louis Cardinals (NFC Eastern Division champions) 1975 St. Louis Cardinals (NFC Eastern Division champions) 1979 San Diego Chargers (AFC Western Division champions) 1980 San Diego Chargers (AFC Western Division champions) 1981 San Diego Chargers (AFC Western Division champions) Championship Games

    1980 AFC – Oakland Raiders 34, San Diego Chargers 27 1981 AFC – Cincinnati Bengals 27, San Diego Chargers 7 Media Guide Excerpts

    1986 San Diego Chargers Media Guide biography DOES NOT INCLUDE CORYELL’S FINAL SEASON (1986)

    Don Coryell’s impact of the sport of professional football it undeniable. In thirteen seasons as a head coach in the National Football league, Coryell's wizardry with the passing game has led the NFL into an era of explosive offensive football. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. With his ever-changing offense passing for more yards than any other, Coryell's success through the air has led others 10 follow suit. Not only are NFL offenses averaging nearly 45 more yards a game since Coryell became a head coach in 1973, but passing yardage is up more than 63 yards a game. Since Coryell's first full season in 1979, the Chargers have scored more points, run more plays, and produced more yards, first downs, and yards per play than any team in the NFL. Don Coryell came to San Diego following the fourth game of the 1978 season and brought an offense that was quickly tabbed "Air Coryell.” He took over a 1-3 team which was ranked fifteenth in total offense and seventh in passing offense. The Chargers won 7 of their final 8 games and finished 9-7, one game out of the playoffs. The team also finished fourth in total offense and led the league in passing. Since Coryell took the helm Sept. 25, 1978, the Chargers have led the NFL in passing offense 7 of 8 seasons, finishing second in 1984. San Diego never has finished lower than fifth in total offense and led the NFL 5 of the last 6 seasons. Coryell has won five division championships in his 13 years as a head coach, including AFC West Championships for the Chargers in 1979, 1980 and 1981. He won NFL Coach of the Year honors in 1979. His overall record is 110 wins, 76 losses, and 1 tie for a won-loss percentage of .591. Coryell is the only coach in history to win 100 games on both the professional and collegiate levels. The "Air Coryell" offense has been a boom to offensive stars such as Dan Fouts and Charlie Joiner. Prior to Coryell's arrival, Fouts averaged 171.4 yards a start and Joiner averaged 44.2 yards a game. Under Coryell and company, Fouts' average rocketed to 282.8 yards and Joiner's average jumped to 60.5 yards. Coryell came to the NFL in 1973 as the head coach of the St. Louis Cardinals and won Division Championships in 1974 and 1975. He took over a Cardinals team which was 25th in total offense in 1972. Finished, 12th in 1973, and improved to third in total offense and second in passing offense in the NFL. Coryell won his first NFL Coach of the Year honor in 1974. Prior to coming to the NFL. Coryell spent 12 years at San Diego State, where his teams posted an overall record of 104 wins, 19 losses, and 2 ties for a won-loss percentage of .640, and turned out numerous professional prospects. It was in college that Coryell realized that the best way to beat an opponent that had more physical ability was with a passing game. His teams at San Diego State achieved national acclaim in this manner and Coryell brought the same ideas with him to the NFL. Donald David Coryell was born in Seattle Oct. 17, 1924. He played at Seattle's Lincoln High and Joined the U.S. Army as a private in the ski troops upon high school graduation in 1943. Coryell was a first lieutenant in the paratroopers when he was discharged three-and-a-half years later and entered the University of Washington. Don played defensive back for the Huskies and was graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in education in 1950. He took a master's degree in science one year later and accepted his first coaching assignment as an assistant at Punahou Academy in Honolulu. Coryell was head coach at Honolulu Farrin9ton in 1952, then coached two seasons at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver.

  • Don Coryell, Page 3 Coryell moved to the Junior College ranks in Washington in 1955, taking over a Wenatachee team that had been winless the year before. Wenatachee was undefeated under Coryell, who became the athletic director and head coach at the Army base at Fort Ord, California the following year. Fort Ord emerged as the only undefeated service team in the country in 1956. Coryell became head coach at Whittier College in 1957 and led the Poets to a 23-5-1 record, three Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships and number one ranking among U.S. small colleges in total offense in passing in 1959. Coryell then served one year as offensive backfield coach at the University of Southern California before taking over a downtrodden San Diego State program. Don was named the San Diego Aztecs’ head coach Jan. 14, 1961. Coryell immediately embarked on a strong recruiting program and whipped the Aztecs to 7-2-1 in his first season. Over the next 11 seasons under Coryell, San Diego State became recognized for great offensive teams and the development of outstanding pro prospects. Among other achievements:

    • San Diego State had unbeaten seasons of 11-0 in 1966, 9-0-1 in 1968 and 11-0 in 1969. The Aztecs won 25 games in a row from 1965-67, then went 31 games without a defeat.

    • Coryell was named College Division district coach of the year in 1963, ’66, ’67, and ’68. • After a 10-1 season in 1972, Coryell was hired by the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL.

    Don and his lovely wife Alissa live in El Cajon and have a son, Mike, a graduate in physics from the University of California at San Diego, and a daughter, Mindy, who is the wife of Michael Lewis of El Cajon.