Dick Coury, one of the great high school coaches of all-time who went on to spend time on the college and pro level, died Saturday at the age of 91.
Coury’s teams at Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei won 85 games while losing nine and tying five from 1957-65.
Per the Orange County Register:
Coury went on to serve as defensive coordinator for USC and became Cal State Fullerton’s first football coach in 1970.
He was part of the Trojans’ coaching staff for their 1967 national championship. In his two seasons at Cal State Fullerton, he compiled a 13-8-1 record.
Coury was the head coach of the World Football League’s Portland Storm in 1974-75. Coury later coached the Breakers, Portland’s United States Football League franchise, in 1985.
Coury was an NFL assistant coach for nine different teams over a 30-year period. Coury was defensive coordinator at USC when the Trojans won the 1967 national title. Coury also served as an assistant coach on the Philadelphia Eagles’ 1981 Super Bowl team.
Coury told Oregonlive.com how difficult times were in the WFL.
“You want to talk about a real struggle,” Coury told The Oregonian in 2012. “The league couldn’t even pay the players. They just stopped paying the guys after a while. The fans in Portland were so good they brought sandwiches to the games for the players, or they’d stop at practices and bring picnic lunches. “They knew we were struggling, and were trying to make life pleasant. I’ll never forget that.”
It’s a sad day for #Monarch nation as we share the passing of legendary Head Football Coach Dick Coury. During his 9 seasons at #MD (1957-1965), Couch Coury led the #Monarchs to 3 CIF-SS, 7 league titles and an overall record of 85-9-5. https://t.co/oOBxLdxBW5
— Mater Dei Football (@MDFootball) August 16, 2020
Dick Coury, longtime Mater Dei High, college and pro football coach, dies at 91 https://t.co/SLW1fcY1zC
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) August 16, 2020
Rest In Peace coach Dick Coury. #Family #LakerNation pic.twitter.com/wY9rfOkD7n
— LO Lakers Football (@LOLakersFB) August 16, 2020