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Sacramento Bee

Decision on 49ers' coach may be near

February 09, 2003

By Jim Jenkins -- Bee Staff Writer
After second interviews with each of three NFL defensive coordinators who appear to be the leading candidates for the 49ers' head-coaching vacancy, it is now up to 49ers owner John York and general manager Terry Donahue to decide.
There's speculation that the answer could come within a few days, even if the team chooses to talk to at least one college coach over the weekend, with Donahue thought to be interested in Oregon's Mike Bellotti, formerly of UC Davis; Oregon State's Dennis Erickson, formerly the coach of the Seattle Seahawks; and Washington's Rick Neuheisel, who played under Donahue at UCLA.
None of the three coordinators given follow-up interviews this week has been an NFL coach, but each has extensive experience in the league -- the 49ers' Jim Mora, 41; the New York Jets' Ted Cottrell, 55; and Chicago's Greg Blache, 53. Cottrell and Blache are African Americans.
All have an upside as potential successors to Steve Mariucci, who was fired Jan. 15 after a six-year run with the 49ers and quickly scooped up by Detroit to become the Lions' coach.
Mora already knows the San Francisco roster, was part of the rebuilding process and appears to be popular with most players, a possible advantage. Cottrell has been part of an exciting turnaround by the Jets, and Blache reportedly impressed York with his reputation as being big on discipline, something management felt was lacking under Mariucci.
Although the youngest of the three pro candidates, Mora, son of former New Orleans and Indianapolis coach Jim Mora, has spent nearly half his life in the NFL. He started out in the league in 1985 as an assistant coach with the San Diego Chargers.
By 1992, he was with the Saints, serving on his father's staff, and in 1997 he was hired by the 49ers and promoted to defensive coordinator a year later.
"I've worked at every level of an organization, worked with some great people and been in some outstanding situations with great teams," said Mora, who with Cottrell and Blache was given the unusual opportunity to comment publicly on the interview sessions. "I have confidence in my ability and have a plan for this organization.
"That's all I can control. If I'm selected as head football coach, then we'll start working on that plan. In terms of other candidates, there are a lot of great football coaches out there. We tend to focus on certain guys, but I've been around long enough and been around some great football minds to tell you whoever they choose will do a tremendous job."
Cottrell has already signed a two-year contract extension with the Jets if he fails to land the 49ers' post. He agrees with criticism that the NFL generally does a poor job with minority hiring but feels San Francisco has been sincere in its approach.
"If a team talks to you, that doesn't mean it is an interview," Cottrell said. "I've had seven talk to me. Four of them have been what I call legitimate interviews, and three of them have been (a waste of time). ... I think (the 49ers) are going to choose the best coach, regardless of race. You could be white, you could be purple. It doesn't matter. The best coach is going to get this job, who they feel can fit into this organization."
Blache -- a Notre Dame graduate, as is York -- said he's not worried that an 11th-hour candidate could surface from the college ranks.
"My role is to be the candidate. It's not to investigate the role; it's not to try and critique it," he said.
Blache was asked if Donahue, heading up the coaching search, was likely to give the job to a coach he has known only a short time.
"If you hire your friends, you've got a fraternity," Blache said. "You have to hire the best guy that you can. ... That's the one reason I think I'm here, because he called around the league, and the people (I've worked with) had positive things to say about me and my ability to handle the situation. I think a lot of people make mistakes by only hiring the people they know and not broadening their horizons."

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.

By Jim Jenkins -- Bee Staff Writer

After second interviews with each of three NFL defensive coordinators who appear to be the leading candidates for the 49ers' head-coaching vacancy, it is now up to 49ers owner John York and general manager Terry Donahue to decide.

There's speculation that the answer could come within a few days, even if the team chooses to talk to at least one college coach over the weekend, with Donahue thought to be interested in Oregon's Mike Bellotti, formerly of UC Davis; Oregon State's Dennis Erickson, formerly the coach of the Seattle Seahawks; and Washington's Rick Neuheisel, who played under Donahue at UCLA.

None of the three coordinators given follow-up interviews this week has been an NFL coach, but each has extensive experience in the league -- the 49ers' Jim Mora, 41; the New York Jets' Ted Cottrell, 55; and Chicago's Greg Blache, 53. Cottrell and Blache are African Americans.

All have an upside as potential successors to Steve Mariucci, who was fired Jan. 15 after a six-year run with the 49ers and quickly scooped up by Detroit to become the Lions' coach.

Mora already knows the San Francisco roster, was part of the rebuilding process and appears to be popular with most players, a possible advantage. Cottrell has been part of an exciting turnaround by the Jets, and Blache reportedly impressed York with his reputation as being big on discipline, something management felt was lacking under Mariucci.

Although the youngest of the three pro candidates, Mora, son of former New Orleans and Indianapolis coach Jim Mora, has spent nearly half his life in the NFL. He started out in the league in 1985 as an assistant coach with the San Diego Chargers.

By 1992, he was with the Saints, serving on his father's staff, and in 1997 he was hired by the 49ers and promoted to defensive coordinator a year later.

"I've worked at every level of an organization, worked with some great people and been in some outstanding situations with great teams," said Mora, who with Cottrell and Blache was given the unusual opportunity to comment publicly on the interview sessions. "I have confidence in my ability and have a plan for this organization.

"That's all I can control. If I'm selected as head football coach, then we'll start working on that plan. In terms of other candidates, there are a lot of great football coaches out there. We tend to focus on certain guys, but I've been around long enough and been around some great football minds to tell you whoever they choose will do a tremendous job."

Cottrell has already signed a two-year contract extension with the Jets if he fails to land the 49ers' post. He agrees with criticism that the NFL generally does a poor job with minority hiring but feels San Francisco has been sincere in its approach.

"If a team talks to you, that doesn't mean it is an interview," Cottrell said. "I've had seven talk to me. Four of them have been what I call legitimate interviews, and three of them have been (a waste of time). ... I think (the 49ers) are going to choose the best coach, regardless of race. You could be white, you could be purple. It doesn't matter. The best coach is going to get this job, who they feel can fit into this organization."

Blache -- a Notre Dame graduate, as is York -- said he's not worried that an 11th-hour candidate could surface from the college ranks.

"My role is to be the candidate. It's not to investigate the role; it's not to try and critique it," he said.

Blache was asked if Donahue, heading up the coaching search, was likely to give the job to a coach he has known only a short time.

"If you hire your friends, you've got a fraternity," Blache said. "You have to hire the best guy that you can. ... That's the one reason I think I'm here, because he called around the league, and the people (I've worked with) had positive things to say about me and my ability to handle the situation. I think a lot of people make mistakes by only hiring the people they know and not broadening their horizons."

Tell us what you think on the new 49ers Clubhouse message board.