Don Coryell

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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". However, the Charger offense lacked the ability to control the clock, resulting in their defense spending too much time on the field. As a result, they fell short of getting to the super bowl. 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, 18 losses and 2 ties including undefeated season in 1966, 1968 and 1969. He was an assistant coach for the USC Trojans in 1960.

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 times with the latter team. With Dan Fouts as quarterback, San Diego's "Air Coryell" was among the greatest passing offenses in NFL history.

At San Diego State, Coryell helped develop a number of quarterbacks for the NFL, including Don Horn, Bob Klatt, Jesse Frietas, Dennis Shaw and Brian Sipe, and also coached two players who later became actors: Fred Dryer and Carl Weathers. Coryell's development of future coaches included John Madden, Joe Gibbs, Jim Hanifan, Ernie Zampese, and Al Saunders.

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

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 • 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