Paul J. Schissler
Encyclopedia
Paul J. Schissler was an American football
, basketball
, and baseball
coach in the United States. He coached football at the high school, college, and professional levels, and is credited with starting the National Football League
's annual Pro Bowl
.
in Hastings, Nebraska
. He coached there for two seasons, from 1913 to 1914.
in Crete, Nebraska
. He only coached one season with Doane College during the 1915 season. Schissler left Doane to become the head football coach at St. Viator College
in Bourbonnais, Illinois
where he coached again for only one season in 1916.
located in Crete, Nebraska
and he held that position for the 1915 season. His coaching record at Doane was 5–3. As of the conclusion of the 2007 season, this ranks him 14th at Doane in total wins and seventh at Doane in winning percentage (.625).
As the head baseball coach at Nebraska, Schissler posted a three year record of 20–14.
from 1924 to 1932. During his nine year tenure, he compiled a 48–30–2 (.613) record. He led the Beavers
to three seven-win seasons in 1925, 1926, and 1930. He was known for opening seasons strong, having had a 76–0 win against Willamette University
, a 67–0 win against Multnomah Athletic Club, and a 51–0 win against Willamette.
from 1933 to 1934. In his time as the Cardinals head coach he posted a record of 6–15–1.
From 1935 to 1936, he was the head coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers
NFL team in New York City
, compiling a record of 8–14–2.
before Washington was allowed to play in the NFL. Schissler sold Washington's contract to the Los Angeles Rams
in 1946. Schissler also coached the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals
and the Hollywood Stars of the California Pro Football League, and during World War II
served in the military where he also coached a football team. Later, Schissler helped start the Pro Bowl in 1951 while working for the Los Angeles Times
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
, and baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
coach in the United States. He coached football at the high school, college, and professional levels, and is credited with starting the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
's annual Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
.
Coaching career
Schissler first coaching position was as the head football coach at Hastings High SchoolHastings Senior High School (Nebraska)
Hastings Senior High School is a public secondary school located in Hastings, Nebraska, USA. It is part of the Hastings Public Schools school district. Other Hastings-area high schools are Hastings St. Cecilia High School and Adams Central Junior-Senior High School...
in Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings, Nebraska
Hastings is a city in and the county seat of Adams County, Nebraska, United States. It is the principal city of the Hastings, Nebraska Micropolitan Statistical Area, which consists of Adams and Clay counties. The population was 24,907 at the 2010 census...
. He coached there for two seasons, from 1913 to 1914.
College
Schissler's first collegiate position was as the head coach at Doane CollegeDoane College
Doane College is a private liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, United States, with additional campuses located in Lincoln and Grand Island.-History:...
in Crete, Nebraska
Crete, Nebraska
Crete is a city in Saline County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 6,960 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Crete is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
. He only coached one season with Doane College during the 1915 season. Schissler left Doane to become the head football coach at St. Viator College
St. Viator College
St. Viator College was a Catholic liberal arts college in Bourbonnais, Illinois. It is no longer in operation.-History:St. Viator's grew out of the original Bourbonnais village school, founded in 1865 by the Viatorians, to an academy for boys with the help of Father P...
in Bourbonnais, Illinois
Bourbonnais, Illinois
Bourbonnais is a village in Kankakee County, Illinois, United States. The population was 15,256 at the 2000 census, but it was estimated to have grown to 19,119 in 2009...
where he coached again for only one season in 1916.
Doane
Schissler was the 16th head coach for the Doane College TigersDoane College
Doane College is a private liberal arts college in Crete, Nebraska, United States, with additional campuses located in Lincoln and Grand Island.-History:...
located in Crete, Nebraska
Crete, Nebraska
Crete is a city in Saline County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 6,960 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Crete is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of , all of it land....
and he held that position for the 1915 season. His coaching record at Doane was 5–3. As of the conclusion of the 2007 season, this ranks him 14th at Doane in total wins and seventh at Doane in winning percentage (.625).
Nebraska
In 1919, Schissler went to the University of Nebraska. There he was an assistant football coach, the head basketball coach, and the head baseball coach. Schissler was the head coach of the basketball team for two seasons, posting a 37–5 overall record.As the head baseball coach at Nebraska, Schissler posted a three year record of 20–14.
Oregon
Schissler was the head football coach for Oregon StateOregon State University
Oregon State University is a coeducational, public research university located in Corvallis, Oregon, United States. The university offers undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees and a multitude of research opportunities. There are more than 200 academic degree programs offered through the...
from 1924 to 1932. During his nine year tenure, he compiled a 48–30–2 (.613) record. He led the Beavers
Oregon State Beavers
The Oregon State Beavers is a name shared by all sports teams at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. The Beavers are part of the Pacific-12 Conference . Oregon State's mascot is Benny the Beaver...
to three seven-win seasons in 1925, 1926, and 1930. He was known for opening seasons strong, having had a 76–0 win against Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
, a 67–0 win against Multnomah Athletic Club, and a 51–0 win against Willamette.
NFL
Schissler first foray in to coaching in the NFL was with the Chicago CardinalsArizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
from 1933 to 1934. In his time as the Cardinals head coach he posted a record of 6–15–1.
From 1935 to 1936, he was the head coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers
Brooklyn Dodgers (NFL)
The Brooklyn Dodgers were an American football team that played in the National Football League from 1930 to 1943, and in 1944 as the Brooklyn Tigers. The team played its home games at Ebbets Field. In 1945, because of financial difficulties, the team was merged with the Boston Yanks...
NFL team in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, compiling a record of 8–14–2.
Later career
Schissler later owned and coached the Hollywood Bears football team of the Pacific Coast Pro Football League. There he coached and played with Kenny WashingtonKenny Washington (American football)
Kenneth S. "Kingfish" Washington was a professional football player who was the first African-American to sign a contract with a National Football League team in the modern era.-UCLA Bruins:...
before Washington was allowed to play in the NFL. Schissler sold Washington's contract to the Los Angeles Rams
St. Louis Rams
The St. Louis Rams are a professional American football team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are currently members of the West Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Rams have won three NFL Championships .The Rams began playing in 1936 in Cleveland,...
in 1946. Schissler also coached the NFL’s Chicago Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Hollywood Stars of the California Pro Football League, and during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
served in the military where he also coached a football team. Later, Schissler helped start the Pro Bowl in 1951 while working for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
.