49ers Clubhouse

The Press Democrat

College coaching candidates may be hard to find for 49ers

February 07, 2003

By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
SANTA CLARA -- Although 49ers general manager Terry Donahue intends to comb the college ranks in his quest for a new head coach, it might not be so simple.
League sources suggest that Donahue, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame after a 20-year run at UCLA, is finding that choosing a 49ers coach is not as easy as simply pinpointing a candidate and going out and getting him.
The 49ers have narrowed a list of potential coaches to three professional defensive coordinators: Jim Mora of the 49ers, Greg Blache of the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets' Ted Cottrell.
Earlier this week, Donahue stated that he expected to turn some of his attention to a limited number of candidates in college football.
The 49ers are looking for a coach who can be a motivator and a leader. Front-office sources say there is a belief that coach Steve Mariucci, who was fired Jan. 15, was not tough enough. There's an assumption that the organization is looking for someone with more fire than the mild-mannered Mariucci.
Donahue is believed to have contacted numerous college coaches about the 49ers' job. Yet it is possible that none of them will make it to the team's facility to meet with owner John York, a league source said.
The 49ers are expected to announce their new coach next week.
Those familiar with York's business practices say he will not pay top dollar for a coach, but he will pay what is considered a fair amount. When Mariucci signed a five-year, $10 million contract in 1999, it was seen as reasonable for both sides.
Still, with the cost of living in the Bay Area, it might take $2.5 or $3 million annually for the 49ers to land a high-profile college coach.
Because no college coach wanted his name linked to the 49ers prior to Wednesday's national letter-of-intent day for recruits, some of the candidates issued statements denying any interest in the job. But coaches have been known to change their minds.
Here's a look at some of the candidates from the college ranks that Donahue has undoubtedly considered:
DENNIS ERICKSON, Oregon State
Erickson might be the most available of any of the college candidates. A team source said Donahue spoke with Erickson, 55, early in the process. Donahue coached against Erickson at Washington State. He went on to Miami, where he won two national titles. Erickson went 31-33 in four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks from 1995-'98. With bonuses, Erickson makes approximately $1 million a season. What might make him more attractive than any of the pro assistants is his head coaching experience.
RICK NEUHEISEL, Washington
This one doesn't make much sense because not only is Neuheisel, 41, an offensive coach who does not run the West Coast offense but he is not exactly a disciplinarian. He worked for six seasons under Donahue at UCLA, but left angry at Donahue when he was passed over in favor of Bob Toledo for the team's offensive coordinator job. Neuheisel makes roughly $1.4 million at Washington and also has a buyout of almost $2 million.
BOB STOOPS, Oklahoma
A native of Youngstown, Stoops, 42, is another good fit because of his defensive background. He declined an opportunity to interview for the Jacksonville job last month, but the 49ers' opening could hold some intrigue. However, his $2 million annual salary might make him difficult to land. Also, it didn't help that Eddie DeBartolo said he would hire Stoops if he were still in charge.
JIM TRESSEL, Ohio State
He won four NCAA Division I-AA titles in York's backyard at Youngstown State. His team even practiced at the 49ers' facility a couple seasons ago when they made a West Coast trip. Tressel, 50, is coming off a 14-0 season and a national championship at Ohio State.
Tressel is a coach with an offensive background, having served as quarterbacks, receivers and running backs coach in his past. He makes around $1 million a season.
TYRONE WILLINGHAM, Notre Dame
If Willingham, 49, were still at Stanford, this would be a no-brainer. He is the man the 49ers would want to hire for this job. But Willingham is now making $2 million a season at York's alma mater. York has stated that Willingham and Notre Dame are a good fit and he doesn't want to upset that.
MIKE BELLOTTI, Oregon
Bellotti, 52, is a Bay Area native who has moved up the coaching food chain. In the mid-1980s he coached at Chico State. Donahue is familiar with Bellotti from his Pac-10 days. However, Bellotti is an offensive coach and the 49ers already have their offensive direction set.
RICH BROOKS, Kentucky
Less than two months ago, Brooks, 61, became the coach at Kentucky. It is doubtful that he would leave the school so soon after signing on. But it is also known that Donahue thinks a lot of Brooks, who spent 18 seasons at Oregon and 10 in the NFL. He had a 13-19 record in two seasons in the mid-1990s as coach of the St. Louis Rams. Donahue touted Brooks for the UCLA job after Toledo was fired after last season.
KIRK FERENTZ, Iowa
Iowa gave Ferentz, 47, an eight-percent pay raise to a base salary of $983,000 after the Hawkeyes made an appearance in the Orange Bowl this season after going through the Big Ten with an unbeaten record. Ferentz is seen as up-and-comer. He even has a professional background, having been an offensive line coach in the Baltimore Ravens organization for six seasons.

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

By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

SANTA CLARA -- Although 49ers general manager Terry Donahue intends to comb the college ranks in his quest for a new head coach, it might not be so simple.

League sources suggest that Donahue, a member of the College Football Hall of Fame after a 20-year run at UCLA, is finding that choosing a 49ers coach is not as easy as simply pinpointing a candidate and going out and getting him.

The 49ers have narrowed a list of potential coaches to three professional defensive coordinators: Jim Mora of the 49ers, Greg Blache of the Chicago Bears and the New York Jets' Ted Cottrell.

Earlier this week, Donahue stated that he expected to turn some of his attention to a limited number of candidates in college football.

The 49ers are looking for a coach who can be a motivator and a leader. Front-office sources say there is a belief that coach Steve Mariucci, who was fired Jan. 15, was not tough enough. There's an assumption that the organization is looking for someone with more fire than the mild-mannered Mariucci.

Donahue is believed to have contacted numerous college coaches about the 49ers' job. Yet it is possible that none of them will make it to the team's facility to meet with owner John York, a league source said.

The 49ers are expected to announce their new coach next week.

Those familiar with York's business practices say he will not pay top dollar for a coach, but he will pay what is considered a fair amount. When Mariucci signed a five-year, $10 million contract in 1999, it was seen as reasonable for both sides.

Still, with the cost of living in the Bay Area, it might take $2.5 or $3 million annually for the 49ers to land a high-profile college coach.

Because no college coach wanted his name linked to the 49ers prior to Wednesday's national letter-of-intent day for recruits, some of the candidates issued statements denying any interest in the job. But coaches have been known to change their minds.

Here's a look at some of the candidates from the college ranks that Donahue has undoubtedly considered:

DENNIS ERICKSON, Oregon State

Erickson might be the most available of any of the college candidates. A team source said Donahue spoke with Erickson, 55, early in the process. Donahue coached against Erickson at Washington State. He went on to Miami, where he won two national titles. Erickson went 31-33 in four seasons with the Seattle Seahawks from 1995-'98. With bonuses, Erickson makes approximately $1 million a season. What might make him more attractive than any of the pro assistants is his head coaching experience.

RICK NEUHEISEL, Washington

This one doesn't make much sense because not only is Neuheisel, 41, an offensive coach who does not run the West Coast offense but he is not exactly a disciplinarian. He worked for six seasons under Donahue at UCLA, but left angry at Donahue when he was passed over in favor of Bob Toledo for the team's offensive coordinator job. Neuheisel makes roughly $1.4 million at Washington and also has a buyout of almost $2 million.

BOB STOOPS, Oklahoma

A native of Youngstown, Stoops, 42, is another good fit because of his defensive background. He declined an opportunity to interview for the Jacksonville job last month, but the 49ers' opening could hold some intrigue. However, his $2 million annual salary might make him difficult to land. Also, it didn't help that Eddie DeBartolo said he would hire Stoops if he were still in charge.

JIM TRESSEL, Ohio State

He won four NCAA Division I-AA titles in York's backyard at Youngstown State. His team even practiced at the 49ers' facility a couple seasons ago when they made a West Coast trip. Tressel, 50, is coming off a 14-0 season and a national championship at Ohio State.

Tressel is a coach with an offensive background, having served as quarterbacks, receivers and running backs coach in his past. He makes around $1 million a season.

TYRONE WILLINGHAM, Notre Dame

If Willingham, 49, were still at Stanford, this would be a no-brainer. He is the man the 49ers would want to hire for this job. But Willingham is now making $2 million a season at York's alma mater. York has stated that Willingham and Notre Dame are a good fit and he doesn't want to upset that.

MIKE BELLOTTI, Oregon

Bellotti, 52, is a Bay Area native who has moved up the coaching food chain. In the mid-1980s he coached at Chico State. Donahue is familiar with Bellotti from his Pac-10 days. However, Bellotti is an offensive coach and the 49ers already have their offensive direction set.

RICH BROOKS, Kentucky

Less than two months ago, Brooks, 61, became the coach at Kentucky. It is doubtful that he would leave the school so soon after signing on. But it is also known that Donahue thinks a lot of Brooks, who spent 18 seasons at Oregon and 10 in the NFL. He had a 13-19 record in two seasons in the mid-1990s as coach of the St. Louis Rams. Donahue touted Brooks for the UCLA job after Toledo was fired after last season.

KIRK FERENTZ, Iowa

Iowa gave Ferentz, 47, an eight-percent pay raise to a base salary of $983,000 after the Hawkeyes made an appearance in the Orange Bowl this season after going through the Big Ten with an unbeaten record. Ferentz is seen as up-and-comer. He even has a professional background, having been an offensive line coach in the Baltimore Ravens organization for six seasons.

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