Nick Skorich
From Steelers player to Eagles and Browns head coach, then NFL officiating supervisor.
Nicholas Leonard Skorich (June 26, 1921 – October 2, 2004) played guard at Bellaire High School and the University of Cincinnati before serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he joined the Pittsburgh Steelers, who had selected him in the 17th round of the 1943 NFL draft, and spent three seasons with the team. He moved into coaching at the high school level, then returned to the Steelers as an assistant from 1954 to 1957. After a single season with the Green Bay Packers, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles and was promoted to head coach when Buck Shaw retired following the Eagles' 1960 championship.
Skorich led the Eagles for three seasons, then became a defensive assistant for the Cleveland Browns under Blanton Collier in 1964. He was later promoted to offensive coordinator and, in January 1971, became head coach after Collier retired. Skorich guided the Browns to two playoff appearances, including a close 20–14 loss to the undefeated Miami Dolphins in 1972. After a 4–10 season in 1974, he was replaced by Forrest Gregg.
Skorich then worked as the NFL's supervisor of officials, where he developed new mechanics for umpires—a role later modified by the league in 2010. He died in 2004 from complications following heart surgery. His family established the Nicholas L. Skorich scholarship fund, which holds an annual golf outing in his memory.
Quick Facts
- Number
- 12
- Position
- Guard
- Born
- 26 June 1921
- Birthplace
- Bellaire, Ohio, U.S.
- Died
- 2 October 2004
- Place of death
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
- High school
- Bellaire
- College
- Cincinnati
Facts from the source article.
Background
Skorich's Eagles remained competitive in 1961, winning 10 of 14 games, but fell to 3–10–1 in 1962 and 2–10–2 in 1963. Fired from the Eagles, he took a job as a defensive assistant under Cleveland Browns coach Blanton Collier in 1964. The Browns promoted him to offensive coordinator four years later and head coach on January 7, 1971, upon Collier's retirement after the 1970 season. Under Skorich, the Browns went 9–5 in 1971, winning the AFC Central Division before losing to the Baltimore Colts in the divisional playoffs.
The following year, the Browns earned a wild card spot with a 10–4 record. In the playoffs, they came as close as anyone else that season did to beating the Miami Dolphins in that team's perfect season, losing 20–14 on a late Jim Kiick touchdown. Cleveland dropped to 7–5–2 in 1973 and, in its first last-place finish ever, 4–10 in 1974. The Browns replaced Skorich with former Green Bay Packers star Forrest Gregg.
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