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Dick Coury
Dick Coury
Dick Coury
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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]

Key Information

Biography

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Coury was born to Lebanese-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 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

[edit]
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

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Dick Coury

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Dick Coury was an American football coach known for his more than four-decade career spanning high school, college, and professional levels, including prominent roles as an NFL assistant coach with several teams. Born on September 29, 1929, in Athens, Ohio, he built a reputation for developing players and contributing to successful teams, notably as wide receivers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles during their 1980 NFC Championship season and later with the St. Louis Rams through their Super Bowl XXXIV victory following the 1999 season. He died on August 15, 2020, at age 90. Coury began his head coaching career at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California, from 1957 to 1965, where he compiled an 85–9–5 record and led the team to three CIF Southern Section championships and seven league titles while mentoring future Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte. He went on to serve as defensive coordinator at USC in 1967, when the Trojans finished ranked No. 1 nationally, and became the inaugural head coach at Cal State Fullerton in 1970. In professional football, he held assistant positions with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, San Diego Chargers, New England Patriots (including as offensive coordinator), Minnesota Vikings, Houston Oilers, and others, while also coaching in the World Football League and United States Football League, where he earned USFL Coach of the Year honors in 1983 with the Boston Breakers. Known for his calm demeanor, integrity, and ability to connect with players, Coury retired from coaching in 1999 after a final stint with the Rams.

Early life

Birth and family background

Dick Coury was born on September 29, 1929, in Athens, Ohio. Limited information is available about his early family background or parents. Coury grew up in Athens, where he played quarterback in high school. He attended the University of Notre Dame, serving as a student assistant coach under head coach Frank Leahy during his college years.

Career

Early career in television

Dick Coury's involvement with television was limited to on-camera appearances as himself in his role as an American football coach. His earliest known appearances occurred in sports broadcasts tied to NFL games. He appeared as himself on The NFL on CBS starting in 1969, continuing into the 1990s across 21 episodes, credited in various coaching roles with teams he served at the time. During the 1970s and beyond, he also appeared on other NFL-related programs, including The NFL on NBC (9 episodes), NFL Monday Night Football (8 episodes), and others, reflecting his positions as an assistant coach with teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and others. No sources indicate any credits in television production, such as roles in production management, directing, or producing for scripted series or films. His television exposure was exclusively as a subject of sports coverage connected to his coaching career.

Collaboration with Stephen J. Cannell Productions

Dick Coury had no documented collaboration with Stephen J. Cannell Productions during his career. His professional life was devoted exclusively to American football coaching across high school, college, and professional levels for over four decades, including notable tenures as wide receivers coach for the Philadelphia Eagles (1976–1981) and later roles with the Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams. Comprehensive reviews of his credits and biography reveal no involvement in television production or scripted entertainment projects.

Major productions and contributions

Dick Coury did not participate in major television productions as a producer or in any off-camera creative capacity. His only television-related activity consisted of on-camera appearances as a coach during NFL broadcasts.

Personal life

Family and personal interests

Dick Coury was married to Bonnie for 66 years until his death in 2020. They had seven children: sons Michael (Mike), Rick, Steve, Rob, and Tim; and daughters Catherine Schoolcraft and Linda Chandler. He was also survived by 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Coury maintained a relatively private personal life away from extensive media coverage. Details on hobbies, non-professional activities, or other personal interests are not extensively documented in public records or reliable sources.

Death

Death and tributes

Dick Coury died on August 15, 2020, at the age of 90. He was survived by his wife Bonnie, seven children, 15 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. The Philadelphia Eagles mourned his passing, noting his significant contributions as wide receivers coach from 1976 to 1981 under head coach Dick Vermeil, including his role in guiding the team to the 1980 NFC Championship and its first Super Bowl appearance. Vermeil described Coury as unforgettable, praising his natural compassion for players, even temperament, and ability to coach effectively without raising his voice, while emphasizing his great integrity and loyalty. Pro Football Hall of Fame wide receiver Harold Carmichael, who played under Coury and earned multiple Pro Bowl selections during that era, remembered him as a mild-mannered coach who never screamed or cursed yet commanded deep respect and helped players stay focused and on the right path. Coury was widely regarded for his positive influence across his decades-long career in high school, college, and professional football, with colleagues and former associates recalling his calm demeanor and dedication to those he mentored.

Selected credits

Dick Coury did not hold any behind-the-scenes roles such as production manager, assistant director, or additional crew in film or television productions. His documented television credits are limited to appearances as himself in sports and documentary programming, where he was credited in his professional capacity as a football coach. These include segments on programs like "The NFL on CBS," "ESPN's Sunday Night Football," and various NFL Films features, reflecting his coaching stints with teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Minnesota Vikings. No sources indicate involvement in non-self roles or any connection to scripted television production work.
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