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, and was one of the pioneers of the original West Coast Offense as distinct from the West Coast Offense later popularized by Bill Walsh. Coryell's offense today is commonly known as "Air Coryell".

Prior to the NFL, Coryell coached 12 seasons with the San Diego State Aztecs, using the philosophy of recruiting only junior college players. The 1966, 1968 and 1969 Aztec teams compiled unbeaten records. He coached 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

San Diego State Aztecs Head Football Coaches
Peterson • Herreid • Calland • Eubank • Breitbard • Terry • Schutte • Governali • Coryell • Gilbert • Scovil • Stolz • Luginbill • Tollner • Craft • Long

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

L.A./San Diego Chargers Head Coaches
Gillman • C. Waller • Svare • R. Waller • Prothro • Coryell • Saunders • Henning • Ross • Gilbride • Jones • Riley • Schottenheimer