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 Coury in 1965 | |
| Biographical details | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1929-09-29)September 29, 1929 Athens, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | August 15, 2020(2020-08-15) (aged 90) |
| Alma mater | University of Notre Dame |
| Coaching career (HC unless noted) | |
| 1957–1965 | Mater Dei HS (CA) |
| 1966–1968 | USC (DC) |
| 1969 | Pittsburgh Steelers (assistant) |
| 1970–1971 | Cal State Fullerton |
| 1972–1973 | Denver Broncos (WR) |
| 1974 | Portland Storm |
| 1975 | San Diego Chargers (LB) |
| 1976–1981 | Philadelphia Eagles (WR) |
| 1983–1985 | Boston / New Orleans / Portland Breakers |
| 1986–1990 | Los Angeles Rams (QB) |
| 1991–1992 | New England Patriots (OC) |
| 1993 | Minnesota Vikings (assistant) |
| 1994 | Houston Oilers (OC) |
| 1995–1996 | Houston Oilers (OA/PG) |
| 1997–1998 | St. Louis Rams (WR) |
| Head coaching record | |
| Overall | 32–41–1 (professional) 13–8–1 (college) 85–9–5 (high school) |
| Accomplishments and honors | |
| Awards | |
| USFL Coach of the Year (1983) | |
Richard P. Coury (September 29, 1929 – August 15, 2020) was anAmerican football coach. In a career that spanned across five decades, Coury coached with distinction on the high school, college, and professional levels. His most prominent posts were as head football coach atCal State Fullerton from 1970 to 1971, thePortland Storm of theWorld Football League (WFL) in 1974, and theBoston/New Orleans/Portland Breakers of theUnited States Football League (USFL) from 1983 to 1985. He was named USFL Coach of the Year in1983.[1]
Coury was born toLebanese-American parents, Thomas ("Tannous") and Mary Coury ("Khouri").[2] Thomas immigrated to the US in 1903 from Beirut, and Mary followed in 1910.[3] Coury grew up inAthens, Ohio and was a star athlete in football, basketball, and baseball atAthens High School. A 1951University of Notre Dame graduate, Coury was not a football player, but served as a student assistant for head coachFrank Leahy. After graduating from Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Coury enlisted in theU.S. Army where he, with a recommendation from Coach Leahy, became thebackfield coach for theCamp Drake Bulldogs,[4] a football team composed of U.S. Army Soldiers stationed inJapan during theKorean War.[5] It would be the closestCorporal Coury would come to the shores of Korea.[6] His first full-time coaching position was an assistant atMater Dei High School in 1953 under head coach Tom Carter for two seasons,[7] then underSteve Musseau until 1956.[8] After four seasons, Coury moved up to head the program, compiling a record of 85–9–5 from 1957 to 1965, winning seven Angelus League titles, three CIF-Southern Section championships along with one runner-up finish. Among his many star players included quarterback and future Heisman Trophy winnerJohn Huarte.[9] He then joinedUniversity of Southern California coachJohn McKay's staff asdefensive coordinator in 1966.
Coury then moved on toCal State Fullerton, serving as the school's first head coach, tallying a record of 13–8–1 from 1970 and 1971.
Coury had also held coaching positions with theDenver Broncos,Houston Oilers,Los Angeles Rams,Minnesota Vikings,New England Patriots,Philadelphia Eagles,Pittsburgh Steelers andSan Diego Chargers in the National Football League. His last coaching job was with theSt. Louis Rams before he retired in 1999 to become a scout.[10]
Coury died on August 15, 2020, at the age of 90.[11]
Coury was the father of currentLake Oswego High School football head coachSteve Coury.
| Year | Team | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Result | |||||
| 1957 | Mater Dei | 11 | 0 | 1 | .958 | 1st in Parochial League | CIF-SS Southern Division Champions | |||
| 1958 | Mater Dei | 9 | 2 | 1 | .792 | 1st in Parochial League | CIF-SS 2-A Division Semifinalists | |||
| 1959 | Mater Dei | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | 1st in Parochial League | CIF-SS 2-A Division Finalists | |||
| 1960 | Mater Dei | 11 | 1 | 0 | .917 | 1st in Parochial League | CIF-SS Southern Division Champions | |||
| 1961 | Mater Dei | 6 | 2 | 1 | .722 | T-2nd in Angelus League | did not qualify | |||
| 1962 | Mater Dei | 9 | 1 | 1 | .864 | 1st in Angelus League | CIF-SS 3-A Division Quarterfinalists | |||
| 1963 | Mater Dei | 9 | 1 | 0 | .900 | 1st in Angelus League | CIF-SS 4-A Division First Round | |||
| 1964 | Mater Dei | 7 | 1 | 0 | .875 | 2nd in Angelus League | did not qualify | |||
| 1965 | Mater Dei | 12 | 0 | 1 | .962 | 1st in Angelus League | CIF-SS 4-A Division Champions | |||
| Total | 85 | 9 | 5 | .884 | ||||||
| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cal State Fullerton Titans(California Collegiate Athletic Association)(1970–1971) | |||||||||
| 1970 | Cal State Fullerton | 6–4–1 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
| 1971 | Cal State Fullerton | 7–4 | 3–1 | 2nd | |||||
| Cal State Fullerton: | 13–8–1 | 6–2 | |||||||
| Total: | 13–8–1 | ||||||||
| Year | Team | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| 1974 | Portland Storm | 7 | 12 | 1 | .375 | T-3rd in Western Division | did not qualify | |||
| Total | 7 | 12 | 1 | .375 | - | - | – | |||
| Year | Team | Regular Season | Postseason | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result | ||
| 1983 | Boston Breakers | 11 | 7 | 0 | .611 | 2nd in Atlantic Division | did not qualify | |||
| 1984 | New Orleans Breakers | 8 | 10 | 0 | .444 | 3rd in Southern Division | did not qualify | |||
| 1985 | Portland Breakers | 6 | 12 | 0 | .611 | 4th in Western Conference | did not qualify | |||
| Total | 25 | 29 | 0 | .463 | - | - | – | |||