49ers Clubhouse

San Francisco Chronicle

Donahue was the main man behind choice

February 12, 2003

Glenn Dickey
The hiring of Dennis Erickson as the 49ers' head coach proves that Terry Donahue is definitely in charge.
Firing Steve Mariucci was owner John York's idea, but this process, from putting together a list of candidates to making the final decision, was strictly a Donahue show. York met with the top candidates -- Erickson, Ted Cottrell, Greg Blache and Jim Mora Jr. -- but Donahue made the hiring decision.
Donahue was hired by Bill Walsh and groomed to follow Walsh as the 49ers' general manager, but Donahue has been trying to assert himself and get out of Walsh's shadow. Now, he has.
Walsh was not part of the decision-making process, though he reportedly warned Donahue that Rick Neuheisel would be in over his head as the Niners' coach. Neuheisel was not formally interviewed, though it's believed he and Donahue had a telephone conversation.
If Walsh had been involved, he might have pushed harder for a black coach. Walsh has been a major part of the NFL's program to get more black head coaches, and he has compared Cottrell to Dusty Baker. Though there were rampant rumors early that Walsh's protege and friend, Dennis Green, would be the 49ers' choice, Green didn't get a call.
It's doubtful Walsh would have hired Erickson, either, because Erickson's offense, which utilizes multiple-receiver sets and spreads the field, is much different from the offense Walsh brought to the 49ers and which has been widely copied.
This was a daunting task for Donahue. Because the Mariucci firing was so unexpected, he had had no time to prepare for a coaching change. In addition, he was unfamiliar with pro coaches. His pre-49ers background had been in college ball and, since coming to the 49ers, he had been involved in scouting and the draft, giving him little time to meet pro coaches.
His two most obvious traits, intelligence and thoroughness, served him well in this process. Talking to those whose judgment he respected around the league, he made a list of candidates that eventually was narrowed to the three NFL defensive coordinators. He had two visits with each of the men, and the interviews were long ones. By the end of the interview process, he was certain he knew what to expect from each of them.
At the same time, though, he was always thinking in terms of getting a head coach from the college ranks. That was a different process. With the pro candidates, it was a straightforward matter of getting permission from their clubs to talk to them. The 49ers could afford to be open about these interviews, which is why the three NFL candidates were allowed to speak to the media after the second interview.
It wasn't possible to be that open about college coaches, though, because the coaches didn't want their schools to know they were talking about leaving. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops announced that he was not a candidate. Neuheisel put out his message that he was not a candidate on the University of Washington Web site.
So, though Donahue might have had telephone conversations with other college coaches, according to a 49ers source, Erickson was the only one who was brought in for an interview; he met with Donahue last weekend and also had dinner with Donahue and York.
Donahue liked the idea that Erickson is an offensive coach and that he has pro experience (with the Seattle Seahawks) as well as college. He also has shown he can deal with such potential loose cannons as Warren Sapp (in college at Miami) and Ricky Watters, with the Seahawks.
It now will be up to Donahue, with help from Walsh, to get Erickson the offensive players he needs to succeed. Multiple-receiver formations don't work when you have only one topflight receiver.
For York, the question was how Erickson would fit in the organization. The main reason he fired Mariucci was that he was disturbed by Mariucci's agents saying that Mariucci wanted more say in personnel matters. Erickson told Donahue and York that he wanted only to coach. York told Donahue that he thought Erickson would be a perfect fit.
York's concern about the organizational structure was a legitimate one. There was, as he noted at the time of Mariucci's firing, a lot of "noise" surrounding the organization, mostly because Walsh's presence has been so overwhelming. Mariucci complained to friends that Walsh was constantly looking over his shoulder. Donahue seemed to be overshadowed by Walsh.
Now, the lines of command have been defined. Erickson will coach and Walsh will have his input on personnel matters, but Donahue will be the man in charge.

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

Glenn Dickey

The hiring of Dennis Erickson as the 49ers' head coach proves that Terry Donahue is definitely in charge.

Firing Steve Mariucci was owner John York's idea, but this process, from putting together a list of candidates to making the final decision, was strictly a Donahue show. York met with the top candidates -- Erickson, Ted Cottrell, Greg Blache and Jim Mora Jr. -- but Donahue made the hiring decision.

Donahue was hired by Bill Walsh and groomed to follow Walsh as the 49ers' general manager, but Donahue has been trying to assert himself and get out of Walsh's shadow. Now, he has.

Walsh was not part of the decision-making process, though he reportedly warned Donahue that Rick Neuheisel would be in over his head as the Niners' coach. Neuheisel was not formally interviewed, though it's believed he and Donahue had a telephone conversation.

If Walsh had been involved, he might have pushed harder for a black coach. Walsh has been a major part of the NFL's program to get more black head coaches, and he has compared Cottrell to Dusty Baker. Though there were rampant rumors early that Walsh's protege and friend, Dennis Green, would be the 49ers' choice, Green didn't get a call.

It's doubtful Walsh would have hired Erickson, either, because Erickson's offense, which utilizes multiple-receiver sets and spreads the field, is much different from the offense Walsh brought to the 49ers and which has been widely copied.

This was a daunting task for Donahue. Because the Mariucci firing was so unexpected, he had had no time to prepare for a coaching change. In addition, he was unfamiliar with pro coaches. His pre-49ers background had been in college ball and, since coming to the 49ers, he had been involved in scouting and the draft, giving him little time to meet pro coaches.

His two most obvious traits, intelligence and thoroughness, served him well in this process. Talking to those whose judgment he respected around the league, he made a list of candidates that eventually was narrowed to the three NFL defensive coordinators. He had two visits with each of the men, and the interviews were long ones. By the end of the interview process, he was certain he knew what to expect from each of them.

At the same time, though, he was always thinking in terms of getting a head coach from the college ranks. That was a different process. With the pro candidates, it was a straightforward matter of getting permission from their clubs to talk to them. The 49ers could afford to be open about these interviews, which is why the three NFL candidates were allowed to speak to the media after the second interview.

It wasn't possible to be that open about college coaches, though, because the coaches didn't want their schools to know they were talking about leaving. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops announced that he was not a candidate. Neuheisel put out his message that he was not a candidate on the University of Washington Web site.

So, though Donahue might have had telephone conversations with other college coaches, according to a 49ers source, Erickson was the only one who was brought in for an interview; he met with Donahue last weekend and also had dinner with Donahue and York.

Donahue liked the idea that Erickson is an offensive coach and that he has pro experience (with the Seattle Seahawks) as well as college. He also has shown he can deal with such potential loose cannons as Warren Sapp (in college at Miami) and Ricky Watters, with the Seahawks.

It now will be up to Donahue, with help from Walsh, to get Erickson the offensive players he needs to succeed. Multiple-receiver formations don't work when you have only one topflight receiver.

For York, the question was how Erickson would fit in the organization. The main reason he fired Mariucci was that he was disturbed by Mariucci's agents saying that Mariucci wanted more say in personnel matters. Erickson told Donahue and York that he wanted only to coach. York told Donahue that he thought Erickson would be a perfect fit.

York's concern about the organizational structure was a legitimate one. There was, as he noted at the time of Mariucci's firing, a lot of "noise" surrounding the organization, mostly because Walsh's presence has been so overwhelming. Mariucci complained to friends that Walsh was constantly looking over his shoulder. Donahue seemed to be overshadowed by Walsh.

Now, the lines of command have been defined. Erickson will coach and Walsh will have his input on personnel matters, but Donahue will be the man in charge.

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