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Dick Coury

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Dick Coury
Coury in 1965
Biographical details
Born(1929-09-29)September 29, 1929
Athens, Ohio, U.S.
DiedAugust 15, 2020(2020-08-15) (aged 90)
Alma materUniversity of Notre Dame
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
1957–1965Mater Dei HS (CA)
1966–1968USC (DC)
1969Pittsburgh Steelers (assistant)
1970–1971Cal State Fullerton
1972–1973Denver Broncos (WR)
1974Portland Storm
1975San Diego Chargers (LB)
1976–1981Philadelphia Eagles (WR)
1983–1985Boston / New Orleans / Portland Breakers
1986–1990Los Angeles Rams (QB)
1991–1992New England Patriots (OC)
1993Minnesota Vikings (assistant)
1994Houston Oilers (OC)
1995–1996Houston Oilers (OA/PG)
1997–1998St. Louis Rams (WR)
Head coaching record
Overall32–41–1 (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 an American 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 at Cal State Fullerton from 1970 to 1971, the Portland Storm of the World Football League (WFL) in 1974, and the Boston/New Orleans/Portland Breakers of the United States Football League (USFL) from 1983 to 1985. He was named USFL Coach of the Year in 1983.[1]

Biography

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Coury was born to Lebanese-American parents, Thomas ("Tannous") and Mary Coury ("Khouri").[2] Thomas immigrated to the USA in 1903 from Beirut, and Mary followed in 1910.[3] Coury grew up in Athens, Ohio and was a star athlete in football, basketball, and baseball at Athens High School. A 1951 University of Notre Dame graduate, Coury was not a football player, but served as a student assistant for head coach Frank Leahy. After graduating from Notre Dame with a bachelor's degree in physical education, Coury enlisted in the U.S. Army where he, with a recommendation from Coach Leahy, became the backfield coach for the Camp Drake Bulldogs,[4] a football team composed of U.S. Army Soldiers stationed in Japan during the Korean War.[5] It would be the closest Corporal Coury would come to the shores of Korea.[6] His first full-time coaching position was an assistant at Mater Dei High School in 1953 under head coach Tom Carter for two seasons,[7] then under Steve 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 winner John Huarte.[9] He then joined University of Southern California coach John McKay's staff as defensive coordinator in 1966.

Coury then moved on to Cal 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 the Denver Broncos, Houston Oilers, Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers in the National Football League. His last coaching job was with the St. Louis Rams before he retired in 1999 to become a scout.[10]

Coury died on August 15, 2020, at the age of 90.[11]

Personal

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Coury was the father of current Lake Oswego High School football head coach Steve Coury.

Head coaching record

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High School

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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

College

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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

WFL

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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 - - –

USFL

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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 - - –

References

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  1. ^ USFL Coach Of Year Goes To Dick Coury
  2. ^ "The Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island".
  3. ^ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4SM-ZB4 : accessed 19 August 2020), Thomas Coury, Athens, Athens, Ohio, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 5, sheet 3B, line 75, family 69, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1749; FHL microfilm 2,341,483.
  4. ^ "Athens Messenger". 17 December 1952. p. 15.
  5. ^ "Athens Messenger". 31 August 1952. p. 16.
  6. ^ The original ‘Big O,’ long before Oscar
  7. ^ "List of Mater Dei Football Head Coaches". Archived from the original on 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  8. ^ NFL coach recalls first boss
  9. ^ "Mater Dei Monarchs Football History". Archived from the original on 2018-09-17. Retrieved 2017-08-03.
  10. ^ Los Angeles Times; January 20, 1999
  11. ^ Daschel, Nick (August 16, 2020). "Dick Coury, coach of two Portland pro football teams, father of Lake Oswego coach Steve Coury, dies at 90". OregonLive.com. Retrieved August 17, 2020.
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