Abstract: Based on the definiting the development as a system concept. this paper studies the sustainableclevelopment of coal industry (SDCI) using coordination theory; buileds up the coodination models for SDCIresearch: summarizes the existing and evolving conditions of its development modes of "man and nature combine into one", "mutual restraint between man and nature" and "man must conquer nature": suggestes aclosed- loop control mode; and discusses the structure of SDCI's neural control system.