Former San Diego Chargers Coach Marty Schottenheimer Dies At 77

SAN DIEGO, CA — Former San Diego Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer has died. He was 77.

Schottenheimer died Monday in Charlotte, North Carolina, his family said through former Kansas City Chiefs publicist Bob Moore. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2014 and moved to a hospice on Jan. 30.

"Marty was a tremendous leader of men and a man of great principle — the love and admiration his former players have for him to this day speak volumes," Chargers owner and chairman of the board Dean Spanos said in a statement. "You couldn't outwork him. You couldn't out-prepare him. And you certainly always knew exactly where you stood with him. I am grateful that he was our head coach for five seasons, and I am even more fortunate to have been able to call him a friend."

Schottenheimer was the eighth-winningest coach in NFL history, the Associated Press reported. He also coached the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and the Washington Football Team. He finished his career with 200 wins, 126 losses and one tie in 21 seasons.

"Facing Alzheimer's disease, Marty's incredible wife, Pat, said that he'd approach the diagnosis the same way he coached, 'full throttle,'" Spanos said. "Marty was big on practicing what he preached. And over the last few years, like so many of his players before him, Marty always found a way. He was, in so many ways, the ultimate competitor."

"Our deepest condolences and heartfelt prayers go out to Pat, their children Kristen and Brian, and all of the Schottenheimer grandchildren Marty loved so much."