# Paul J. Schissler

Paul John Schissler (November 11, 1893 – April 16, 1968) was an American football, basketball, and baseball coach. He coached football at the high school, college, and professional levels, and is credited with starting the National Football League's annual Pro Bowl.

## Coaching career

Schissler first coaching position was as the head football coach at Hastings High School in Hastings, Nebraska. He had been a stand-out athlete at HHS, graduating in 1911. He coached there for two seasons, from 1913 to 1914.

### College

Schissler's first collegiate position was as the 16th head football coach at Doane College in Crete, Nebraska. He only coached one season with Doane College during the 1915 season and had a record of 5–3. 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.
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.
In 1921, Schissler was appointed as the athletic director at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois.
Schissler was the head football coach for Oregon State 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.

### NFL

Schissler first foray in to coaching in the NFL came in 1933 when he was hired by Charles Bidwill, new owner of the Chicago Cardinals. He would remain in that position for the 1932 and 1933 seasons, compiling a two-year record of 6–15–1.
From 1935 to 1936, he was the head coach for the Brooklyn Dodgers, the second NFL team in New York City, compiling a record of 8–14–2.

### Later career

Schissler later owned and coached the Hollywood Bears of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League (PCPFL). There he coached and played with Kenny Washington 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 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.

## Death

Schissler died in Hastings, Nebraska, on April 16, 1968, at the age of 74.

## Head coaching record
### College football

| Year | Team | Overall | Conference | Standing | AP$^#$ |
| Doane Tigers (Independent) (1915) |||||||
| 1915 | Doane | 5–3 | | | |
| Doane: | Doane: | 5–3 | | | |
| St. Viator (Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1916) |||||||
| 1916 | St. Viator | 6–2 | | | |
| St. Viator: | St. Viator: | 6–2 | | | |
| Lombard Olive (Illinois Intercollegiate Athletic Conference) (1921–1923) |||||||
| 1921 | Lombard | 9–0 | 5–0 | 1st | |
| 1922 | Lombard | 7–0–2 | 3–0–1 | T–1st | |
| 1923 | Lombard | 6–1 | 4–0 | 1st | |
| Lombard: | Lombard: | 22–1–2 | 12–0–1 | | |
| Oregon Agricultural Aggies (Northwest Conference / Pacific Coast Conference) (1924–1932) |||||||
| 1924 | Oregon Agricultural | 3–5 | 2–3 / 1–4 | T–5th / 7th | |
| 1925 | Oregon Agricultural | 7–2 | 7–0 / 3–2 | T–1st / T–3rd | |
| Oregon Agricultural Aggies / Oregon State Aggies / Oregon State Beavers (Pacific Coast Conference) (1926–1932) |||||||
| 1926 | Oregon Agricultural | 7–1 | 4–1 | T–3rd | |
| 1927 | Oregon State | 3–3–1 | 2–3 | T–5th | |
| 1928 | Oregon State | 6–3 | 2–3 | T–6th | |
| 1929 | Oregon State | 5–4 | 1–4 | T–7th | |
| 1930 | Oregon State | 7–3 | 2–3 | 6th | |
| 1931 | Oregon State | 6–3–1 | 1–3–1 | 7th | |
| 1932 | Oregon State | 4–6 | 1–4 | T–8th | |
| Oregon Agricultural / State: | Oregon Agricultural / State: | 48–30–2 | 22–27–1 | | |
| March Field Flyers (Independent) (1942–1944) |||||||
| 1942 | March Field | 11–2 | | | |
| 1943 | March Field | 9–1 | | | 10 |
| 1944 | March Field | 7–2–2 | | | 10 |
| March Field: | March Field: | 27–5–2 | | | |
| Total: | Total: | 110–41–6 | | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth |||||||
| $^#$Rankings from final AP Poll. |||||||