Don Coryell: Wikis

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Don Coryell
Date of birth	October 17, 1924 (1924-10-17) (age 85)
Place of birth	Seattle, Washington
Position(s)	Head Coach
College	Washington
Career record	111-83
Stats
Coaching stats	DatabaseFootball
Team(s) as a coach/administrator
1957-1959 1961-1972 1973-1977 1978-1986	Whittier College San Diego State St. Louis Cardinals San Diego Chargers
College Football Hall of Fame

Don Coryell (born October 17, 1924) is a former American football coach, who coached in the NFL first with the St. Louis Cardinals from 1973-1977 and then the San Diego Chargers from 1978-1986. He is well-known for his innovations to football's passing offense. Coryell's offense today is commonly known as "Air Coryell". He was inducted into the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame in 1986. Coryell is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame.

Don Coryell played defensive back for the University of Washington from 1949-1951. Coryell coached 12 seasons with the San Diego State Aztecs, using the philosophy of recruiting only junior college players. There, he compiled a record of 104 wins, 19 losses and 2 ties including three undefeated seasons in 1966, 1968 and 1969. He was an assistant coach for the USC Trojans in 1960.

In 1978, when Don Coryell began coaching the San Diego Chargers, the Chargers had a win-loss record of 1-4 for that season. The team broke their losing streak with eight additional wins and three losses that season after Coryell became head coach.^[1]

Coryell is the first coach ever to win more than 100 games at both the collegiate and professional level. He won two consecutive division titles (1974, 1975) with the Cardinals and three straight division titles (1979, 1980, 1981) with the Chargers, reaching the playoffs four consecutive times with the latter team. With Dan Fouts as quarterback, San Diego's "Air Coryell" was among the greatest passing offenses in NFL history. The Chargers led the league in passing yards an NFL record 6 consecutive years from 1978-1983 ^[2] and again in 1985. They also led the league in total yards in offense 1980-1983 and 1985. Fouts, Charlie Joiner, and Kellen Winslow would all be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame from those Charger teams, as well as Dan Dierdorf from the Cardinals.

Fouts was only the 2nd player to pass for 4,000 yards in 1979 before shattering the passing records in each of the next 2 years. In 1982, a season shortened to 9 games because of a strike, Fouts averaged what is still an NFL record of 320 yards passing per game^[3]. In Winslow, Coryell redefined the tight end position into a deep, pass-catching threat too fast for a linebacker and too big for a defensive back. Coryell also developed multi-purpose backs such as Terry Metcalf at St Louis, who set the NFL all-purpose yards record in 1975. In San Diego, he groomed James Brooks and later Lionel James, a mere 5'6" and 171 pound running back, who broke Metcalf's record in 1985 while also setting a record of 1,027 receiving yards by a running back^[4] . A rookie in 1978, John Jefferson went on to become the first receiver in league history to gain 1,000 yards in each of his first three seasons while also grabbing 36 touchdowns. Traded away from Air Coryell by ownership because of a contract dispute ^[5], Jefferson never reached 1,000 yards again in his career. Wes Chandler was acquired to replace Jefferson. In the 1982 strike year, Chandler, set the record of 129 yards receiving per game that is still an NFL record ^[6].

Detractors of Coryell point to the Chargers' defensive shortcomings. However, in 1979 the Chargers allowed the fewest points (246) in the AFC. In 1980 their defense led the NFL with 60 sacks spearheaded by a frontline of All-Pros in Fred Dean, Gary "Big Hands" Johnson and Louie Kelcher. The group was locally nicknamed the Bruise Brothers, coined from a popular act at the time, The Blues Brothers. However, in 1981, Dean, like Jefferson, was traded away due to a contract dispute with ownership ^[7]. Dean contends he was making the same amount of money as his brother-in-law who was a truck driver ^[8]. The Chargers' defense would never be the same afterwards. Meanwhile, Dean would go on in the same year to win UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year (while playing in only 11 games) and help lead the San Francisco 49ers to a Super Bowl that year and again in 1984. Dean was inducted to the NFL Hall of Fame in 2008.

"I can't say how much it affected us, because we did make it to the AFC championship game," said Johnson of the loss of Dean. "But I could say if we had more pass rush from the corner, it might've been different.^[9]"

At San Diego State, Coryell helped develop a number of quarterbacks for the NFL, including Don Horn, Bob Klatt, Jesse Freitas, Dennis Shaw and future NFL MVP Brian Sipe, and also coached two players who later became actors: Fred Dryer and Carl Weathers.

Hall of Fame Consideration

Coryell's direct development of future coaches included Super Bowl head coaches John Madden and Joe Gibbs, Super Bowl offensive coordinators Ernie Zampese and Al Saunders, as well as Jim Hanifan and Rod Dowhower. Adding to the Coryell coaching tree, Super Bowl offensive coordinator Norv Turner tutored under Zampese, and another Super Bowl offensive coordinator Mike Martz studied under both Zampese and later Turner ^[10]. Dan Henning coached under Gibbs.

Fouts says, "He influenced offensive and defensive football because if you are going to have three or four receivers out there, you better have an answer for it on the other side of the ball. If it wasn't for Don, I wouldn't be in the Hall of Fame ^[11]."

In John Madden's Hall of Fame induction speech, Madden mentioned his time at San Diego State "with a great coach that someday will be in here, Don Coryell. He had a real influence on my coaching. Joe Gibbs was on that staff, too^[12]."

Gibbs also lobbied for Coryell's induction into the Hall of Fame, stating "(Coryell) was extremely creative and fostered things that are still in today's game because he was so creative. I think he's affected a lot of coaches, and I'd like to see him get in.^[13] "

"Don is the father of the modern passing game. People talk about the 'West Coast' offense, but Don started the 'West Coast' decades ago and kept updating it. You look around the NFL now, and so many teams are running a version of the Coryell offense. Coaches have added their own touches, but it's still Coryell's offense. He has disciples all over the league. He changed the game," adds Martz ^[11].

Winslow points out that Coryell had an indirect hand in the 49ers', Washington Redskins' and St. Louis Rams' Super Bowl teams. "They call it the West Coast offense because San Francisco won Super Bowls with it, but it was a variation of what we did in San Diego. Joe Gibbs' itty-bitty receivers on the outside and two tight ends in the middle, (that's) a variation of Coryell's offense in San Diego. It's just a personnel change, but it's the same thing. When the Rams won their Super Bowl, it was the same offense, same terminology. For Don Coryell to not be in the Hall of Fame is a lack of knowledge of the voters. That's the nicest way that I can put that. A lack of understanding of the legacy of the game.^[14] "

The fact that many players have made the Hall without making the Super Bowl is ample evidence as to why it should not matter.

In 2010, Coryell for the first time was among the 15 finalists considered by the Hall of Fame selection committee on the Saturday before the Super Bowl. He was not selected.^[15]

References

Sporting positions
Preceded by Paul Governali	San Diego State University Head Football Coach 1961- 1972	Succeeded by Claude Gilbert
Preceded by Bob Hollway	St. Louis Cardinals Head Coaches 1973–1977	Succeeded by Bud Wilkinson
Preceded by Tommy Prothro	San Diego Chargers Head Coaches 1978–1986	Succeeded by Al Saunders

NFL Coach of the Year Award from the Associated Press

San Diego State Aztecs head football coaches

Peterson • Herreid • Calland • Eubank • Breitbard • Terry • Schutte • Governali • Coryell • Gilbert • Scovil • Stolz • Luginbill • Tollner • Craft • Long • Hoke

SDSU Aztec Hall Of Fame Inductees

2008 Inductees
Isaac Curtis, Football (1972) John Farris, Football (1962-64) Kieishsha Garnes, Women's Basketball (1991-92) Marc Grace, Baseball (1985) Bobby Howard, Football (1965-66)
2007 Inductees
Bob Cluck, Baseball (1966-67) Mike Dodd, Men's Basketball (1975-79), Men's Volleyball (1978-80) John "Jake" Duich, Football (1935, 1937-38) Steve Duich, Football (1966-67) Jay Gutowski, Football (1953-56) Bobby Meacham, Baseball (1979-81) Rachel Scott, Water Polo (1995-98)
2006 Inductees
Bob Breitbard, Local Sports Pioneer (1938-40 Player, 1945 Coach) Kim Goetz, Men's Basketball (1978-79) Cynthia MacGregor, Women's Tennis (1983-86) Neal Petties, Football (1961-63) Craig Scoggins, Football (1965-66)
2005 Inductees
Henry Allison, Football (1969-70) Kern Carson, Football (1961-63) Bernie Finlay, Men's Basketball (1958-60) Lynn Kanuka, Women's Track and Field (1980-82) 1987 Men's Rugby Team (national champions)
2004 Inductees
Carrie McLaughlin Stathas, women's track and field Mike Douglass, football Rod Dowhower, football Claude Gilbert, football coach Travis Lee, baseball Ron Reina, broadcaster
2003 Inductees
1973 Men's Volleyball Team (national champions) Marla Runyan, Women's Track & Field 1988-1991 Al Skalecky, Men's Basketball 1966-1968 Nicole Storto, Women's Tennis 1990-1993
2002 Inductees
Norm Nygaard, Football 1952-54 Falisha Wright, Women's Basketball, 1992-95 Joe Gibbs, Football Player, Coach, 1961-63, 65-66 1940-41 Men's Basketball National Championship Team 1987 Men's Soccer NCAA Runner-Up Team
1999 Inductees
Lennie Clements, Golf 1976-1979 Laura DeSnoo, Track&Field 1983-1986 Harry Hodgetts, M-Basketball 1937-1941 Carol Plunkett, W-Tennis Coach 1976-1994 Wendy Wheat, W-Volleyball 1977-1980
1998 Inductees
Marshall Faulk, Football 1991-1993 Chris Gwynn, Baseball 1983-1985 Mary (Holland) Hegarty, W-Volleyball 1979-1982 Dick Mitchell, Men's Basketball 1940-1942 Chana Perry, Women's Basketball 1988-89
1997 Inductees
Vicki (Cantrell) Maniglia, Women's Volleyball 1980-1983 Kenny Hale, Men's Basketball 1941, 1946-47 Joel Kramer, Men's Basketball 1974, 1976-78 Duncan McFarland, Men's Volleyball 1973
1996 Inductees
Paul Mott, Football; Basketball; Track & Field 1925-1928 Ramona Pagel, Track & Field 1983-1984 Todd Santos, Football 1984-1987 Eric Wynalda, Soccer 1987-1989
1995 Inductees
Marcelo Balboa, Soccer 1988-89 Bob Brady, Basketball 1952-54 Claudie Minor, Football 1972-73 Micki Schillig, Tennis 1980-83 Frank Scott, M-Golf Coach 1948-83
1994 Inductees
Patricia (Mang) Jordan, Softball 1987-88 Chris Marlowe, Volleyball 1972-73; Basketball 1970-73 Bill Schutte, Football 1947-55 Nate Wright, Football 1967-68 George Ziegenfuss, M-Basketball Coach 1948-69
1993 Inductees
Tom Ables, (Honorary) Michael Cage, Basketball 1981-84 Vidal Fernandez, Soccer 1977-79 Ann Lebedeff, Tennis 1972-74 Tom Nettles, Football 1966-68 LaTanya Sheffield, Track & Field 1983-86
1992 Inductees
Barbara Barrow, Golf 1974-77 Bud Black, Baseball 1978-79 Tony Pinkins, Basketball 1955-57 Bob Smith, Track & Field 1949-50 Charlie Smith, Baseball Coach 1934-64 Deby (La Plante) Sweezey, Track & Field 1979-80
1991 Inductees
Steve Copp, Basketball 1973-76 Chuck Courtney, Golf 1960-61 Tom Dahms, Football 1947-49 Monte Jackson, Football 1973-74 Angela Rock, Volleyball 1981-84
1990 Inductees
Tim Delaney, Football 1968-70 Art Linkletter, Basketball, Swimming 1932-34 Judy Porter, Basketball 1980-83 Tom Reynolds, Football 1969, 1971
1989 Inductees
Kevin Crow, Soccer 1979-82 Morris Gross, Football; Basketball; Baseball & Basketball Coach 1929-42 Tony Gwynn, Baseball 1979-81; Basketball 1978-81 Don Horn, Football 1965-66 Jack Rand, Track & Field 1934-35; Football 1932-34
1988 Inaugural Inductees
Laurel (Brassey) Iverson, Volleyball 1974-1981 Willie Buchanon, Football 1970-71 John Butler, Football 1933-35 Don Coryell, Head Football Coach 1961-72 Fred Dryer, Football 1967-68 Gary Garrison, Football 1964-65 Gene Littler, Golf 1949-52 Haven Moses, Football 1966-67 Graig Nettles, Baseball 1964-65; Basketball 1964-65 C.E.Peterson, Football Coach1921-29; Basketball 1921-26; Track Coach 1922-1946 Milton Phelps, Basketball 1939-41 Art Preston, Football 1949-51; Baseball 1950-52 Arnie Robinson, Track 1970-71 Dennis Shaw, Football 1968-69 Brian Sipe, Football 1969-71

Willie Steele, Track 1947-48; Basketball 1947; Baseball 1949

Chicago / St. Louis / Phoenix / Arizona Cardinals head coaches

Driscoll • Horween • Barry • Chamberlin • Gillies • Scanlon • Nevers • Andrews • Chevigny • Schissler • Creighton • Nevers • Conzelman • Handler • Conzelman • Lambeau • Handler • Kuharich • Stydahar • Richards • Ivy • Drulis/Prochaska/Willsey • Lemm • Winner • Hollway • Coryell • Wilkinson • Wilson • Hanifan • Stallings • Kuhlmann • Bugel • Ryan • Tobin • McGinnis • Green • Whisenhunt

Los Angeles / San Diego Chargers head coaches

Gillman • C. Waller • Svare • R. Waller • Prothro • Coryell • Saunders • Henning • Ross • Gilbride • Jones • Riley • Schottenheimer • Turner

50 Greatest Chargers

Allen • Alworth • Bauer • Benirschke • Bennett • Buchanon • Byrd • Carney • Chandler • Coryell • Dean • Dielman • Duncan • Faison • Fouts • Garrison • Gates • Gillman • Hadl • Hardwick • Harrison • Humphries • Jammer • Jefferson • Johnson • Joiner • Kaeding * Kelcher • Ladd • Lincoln • P. Lowe • W. Lowe • Merriman • Macek • McNeil • Means • Mix • Muncie • O’Neal • Osgood • Rivers • Ross • Scifres • Seau • Smith • Sproles • Sweeney • Tomlinson • Washington • White • Wilkerson • Williams • Winslow • Wright

Junior Seau Foundation Legend of the Year

2000 Sid Brooks • 2001 Lance Alworth • 2002 Sid Gillman • 2003 Don Coryell • 2004 Marcus Allen • 2005 Deacon Jones • 2006 Bobby Ross • 2007 Warren Moon • 2008 Marshall Faulk • 2009 Charlie Joiner

San Diego Sports Hall of Fame

Members of the Breitbard Hall of Fame
Harold “Brick” Muller – Football – 1953 Ted Williams – Baseball – 1954 Milton “Milky” Phelps – Basketball – 1955 Maureen Connolly – Tennis – 1956 Archie Moore – Boxing – 1956 Bill Miller – Track & Field – 1957 Irvine “Cotton” Warburton – Football – 1959 Earle Brucker – Baseball – 1960 Russ Saunders – Football – 1960 Florence Chadwick – Aquatics – 1962 Mary Kathryn “Mickey” Wright – Golf – 1962 Gene Littler – Golf – 1963 Billy Casper – Golf – 1963 Clarence Pinkston – Aquatics – 1963 Ed Goddard – Football – 1964 Don Larsen – Baseball – 1964 Albert “Pesky” Sprott – Football – 1964 Bob Gutowski – Track & Field – 1965 Bill McColl – Football – 1965 Paul Runyan – Golf – 1966 Bob Elliott – Baseball – 1967 Jim Londos – Wrestling – 1967 Olin Cort Majors – Football – 1967 Bud Held – Track & Field – 1968 Lowell North – Sailing – 1969 Harold “Dutch” Smith – Aquatics – 1969 Stan Barnes – Football – 1970 Billy Mills – Track & Field – 1970 Florence Newkirk – Aquatics – 1971 Karen Hantze Susman – Tennis – 1971 Lance Alworth – Football – 1972 Lee Ramage – Boxing – 1972 Ray “Ike” Boone – Baseball – 1973 Amby Schindler – Football – 1973 Leo Calland – Football – 1974 Rube Powell – Archery – 1974 Evelyn Boldrick Howard – Badminton – 1975 Ron Mix – Football – 1975 Tom Hamilton – Football – 1976 Bob Skinner – Baseball – 1976 Gerry Driscoll – Sailing – 1977 Bobby Smith – Track & Field – 1977 George Brown – Football – 1978 Mike Stamm – Swimming – 1978 Deron Johnson – Baseball – 1979 Jack Rand – Track & Field – 1979 Tex Guentert – Football – 1980 Bud Muehleisen – Racquetball – 1980 Bill McMillan – Marksmanship – 1981 Marten Mendez – Badminton – 1981 Bill Muncey – Hydroplane Racing – 1982 Ralph Smith – Track & Field – 1982 Andy Borthwick – Golf/Rowing – 1983 Dennis Conner – Sailing – 1983 John Butler – Football – 1984 John Hadl – Football – 1984 Malin Burnham – Sailing – 1985 Gavy Cravath – Baseball – 1985 Arnie Robinson – Track & Field – 1985 Charlie Joiner – Football – 1986 Art Luppino – Football – 1986 Don Coryell – Football – 1987 Sid Gillman – Football – 1987 Brian Sipe – Football – 1987 Willie Banks – Track & Field – 1988 Gary Garrison – Football – 1988 Dan Fouts – Football – 1989 Charles Fletcher – Swimming/Water Polo – 1990 Bill Walton – Basketball – 1990 Graig Nettles – Baseball – 1991 Ed White – Football – 1991 Bob Boone – Baseball – 1992 Art Powell – Football – 1992 Joe Alston – Badminton – 1993 Haven Moses – Football – 1993 Charlie Whittingham – Thoroughbred Racing – 1993 Willie Buchanon – Football – 1994 Harold Adams – Football/Baseball – 1994 Kellen Winslow – Football – 1995 Charlie Powell – Football/Boxing – 1995 Randy Jones – Baseball – 1996 Craig Stadler – Golf – 1996 Earl Faison – Football – 1997 Juli Veee – Soccer – 1997 Fred Dryer – Football – 1998 Alan Trammell – Baseball – 1998 Dave Winfield – Baseball – 1998 Marcus Allen – Football – 1999 Rolf Benirschke – Football – 1999 Rollie Fingers – Baseball – 2000 Paula Newby-Fraser – Triathlon – 2000 Keith Lincoln – Football – 2001 Joe Norris – Bowling – 2001 Ken Norton – Boxing – 2001 Tony Gwynn – Baseball – 2002 Tony Hawk – Skateboarding – 2002 Russ Washington – Football – 2002 Elvin Hayes – Basketball – 2003 Ron Newman – Soccer – 2003 Mark Reynolds – Sailing – 2003 Stan Humphries – Football – 2004 Peter McNab – Hockey – 2004 Joe Jessop — Sailing — 2005 Ernie Ladd — Football — 2005 Scott Simpson — Golf — 2005 Doug Wilkerson — Football — 2005 Terrell Davis — Football — 2006 Gail Devers — Track and field — 2006 Louie Kelcher — Football — 2006 Volney Peters — Football — 2006 Goose Gossage — Baseball — 2007 Gary “Big Hands” Johnson — Football — 2007 Buzzie Bavasi — Baseball — 2007 Shannon MacMillan — Soccer — 2008 Pete Newell — Basketball — 2008 Willie O’Ree — Hockey — 2008

Steve Scott — Track and field — 2008

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