| Paul J. Schissler | |
| Birth Date: | 11 November 1893 |
| Birth Place: | Hastings, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Hastings, Nebraska, U.S. |
| Coach Sport1: | Football |
| Coach Years2: | 1913–1914 |
| Coach Team2: | Hastings HS (NE) |
| Coach Years3: | 1915 |
| Coach Team3: | Doane |
| Coach Years4: | 1916 |
| Coach Team4: | St. Viator |
| Coach Years5: | 1918–1920 |
| Coach Team5: | Nebraska (assistant) |
| Coach Years6: | 1921–1923 |
| Coach Team6: | Lombard |
| Coach Years7: | 1924–1932 |
| Coach Team7: | Oregon Agricultural |
| Coach Years8: | 1933–1934 |
| Coach Team8: | Chicago Cardinals |
| Coach Years9: | 1935–1936 |
| Coach Team9: | Brooklyn Dodgers |
| Coach Years10: | 1942–1944 |
| Coach Team10: | March Field |
| Coach Sport11: | Basketball |
| Coach Years12: | 1915–1916 |
| Coach Team12: | Doane |
| Coach Years13: | 1918–1919 |
| Coach Team13: | Nebraska Wesleyan |
| Coach Years14: | 1919–1921 |
| Coach Team14: | Nebraska |
| Coach Sport15: | Baseball |
| Coach Years16: | 1919–1921 |
| Coach Team16: | Nebraska |
| Overall Record: | 110–41–6 (college football) 14–29–3 (NFL) 41–17 (college basketball) 20–14 (college baseball) |
| Championships: | Football 3 IIAC (1921–1923) |
Paul John Schissler (November 11, 1893 – April 16, 1968)[1] 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.
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.[2]
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.[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.[2]
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.[2] [4] As the head baseball coach at Nebraska, Schissler posted a three-year record of 20–14.[2] [5]
In 1921, Schissler was appointed as the athletic director at Lombard College in Galesburg, Illinois.[6]
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.[7] 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.
Schissler first foray in to coaching in the NFL was with the Chicago Cardinals 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.[8]
Schissler later owned and coached the Hollywood Bears of the Pacific Coast Professional Football League (PCPFL).[9] [10] There he coached and played with Kenny Washington before Washington was allowed to play in the NFL.[9] [10] Schissler sold Washington's contract to the Los Angeles Rams in 1946.[9] [10] 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.[10] Later, Schissler helped start the Pro Bowl in 1951 while working for the Los Angeles Times.[8]
Schissler died in Hastings, Nebraska, on April 16, 1968, at the age of 74.[8]
i. ^ Nebraska basketball media guide has name spelled 'Schlisser', however other documents do show Schissler as a coach at Nebraska during that time frame, including the Nebraska baseball media guide.[5]