College coaches in 49ers' picture
February 11, 2003
Kevin Lynch, Chronicle Staff Writer
As planned, the 49ers are looking hard at the college ranks for head- coaching candidates.
Washington coach and former UCLA quarterback Rick Neuheisel was in the Bay Area on Sunday, but claims he cut short his family ski vacation in Sun Valley, Idaho, to play golf with friends, not to meet with the 49ers.
"I want to reiterate what I have said in the past," Neuheisel said in a statement released on the Web site gohuskies.com, "I am the football coach at the University of Washington, and I am very happy with my position, and I am not interested in coaching anywhere else."
Neuheisel told the Seattle Post-Intelligencer that he has no interest in the 49ers' vacancy.
Neuheisel also said in his statement that he has had no contact with the 49ers. Although the 49ers maintain they are willing to pay a coach they like any amount, getting Neuheisel would be costly.
Presumably, the team would have to pay Neuheisel's $2.1 million buyout and at least equal his salary, which is worth about $1.8 million per season.
The 49ers, meanwhile, continue to scour the college ranks. Hawaii coach June Jones, or at least someone by that name, was checked into a South Bay hotel near the 49ers' Santa Clara facility. A source said Jones was interested in the job, and the 49ers were interested in him.
Jones has been an NFL head coach in Atlanta and San Diego and is well known to 49ers consultant Bill Walsh.
Jones is in the fourth year of a five-year deal paying a base salary of $320,000. The former Falcons quarterback always has been well liked by his players and is considered a bright offensive mind.
"I can't anticipate what might come out of those discussions (with the 49ers)," said Jones' agent, Leigh Steinberg. "Obviously, he has been a pro head coach twice and the pro game has an attraction for him. He wouldn't take another college job. He has created a powerhouse at Hawaii. But the 49ers is a unique situation, also."
Bringing in Jones probably would mean opening up the 49ers' offense. Jones has run the pass-dominated run-and-shoot offense in college and the pros.
Another name surfacing is Kentucky coach Rich Brooks, who recently was hired by the university. The former Rams coach is well-known to general manager Terry Donahue, who used to oppose Brooks when both coached in the Pac- 10.
Brooks, who was a longtime coach at Oregon, has been a visitor to the 49ers' facility as a guest of Donahue, the former UCLA coach.
Remaining as candidates are 49ers defensive coordinator Jim Mora, Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and Bears defensive coordinator Greg Blache.
Mora apparently has standing offers from the Carolina Panthers and Detroit Lions to be defensive coordinator if the 49ers do not hire him as a head coach.
The team hopes to name a head coach this week.
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