Tom Rathman will join Steve Mariucci in Detroit after being rejected by new coach

By MATT MAIOCCO
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

New 49ers coach Dennis Erickson on Friday retained both coordinators from Steve Mariucci's staff, but another link to the team's glory years was allowed to leave.

Defensive coordinator Jim Mora and offensive coordinator Greg Knapp will remain with the 49ers and work under Erickson, the team announced. Quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner and offensive line coach Pat Morris also have been retained.

But running backs coach Tom Rathman, who won two Super Bowl rings with the 49ers during his nine-year playing career, will join Mariucci's staff with the Detroit Lions.

Mora, 41, a finalist for the 49ers head-coaching job, could have had his pick of jobs. He had a standing offer to be defensive coordinator with Carolina. In addition, Seattle and Detroit were denied permission to speak to him about their openings.

But after meeting with Erickson, who left Oregon State Tuesday to replace Mariucci, Mora decided to stick around. Several defensive players, including Bryant Young, stopped by his office to express their pleasure.

"He asked me to be the defensive coordinator and I'm excited about it," Mora said. "I like it here. I'm excited about the direction the team is going."

In a statement, Erickson applauded the job Mora has done since the team started rebuilding its defense in 2000.

"He has helped this defense improve each year and I felt it was best for this team to have Jim remain as defensive coordinator," said Erickson, who was denied permission to speak with Pittsburgh secondary coach Willy Robinson about the job.

Erickson also will keep Knapp, 39, who will help him in the adjustment to the new terminology of the West Coast Offense. Knapp said he will continue to call the plays.

"When you're an offensive coordinator and you're working for a head coach with an offensive background, you work under the guidelines your head coach is comfortable with," Knapp said. "I'll definitely get a feel for what Dennis wants and the parameters he sets up."

"Greg and I have very similar beliefs about offensive philosophy and I felt it was a good match for our offense," said Erickson.

Rathman, who signed one-year deals during his six seasons as a 49ers assistant, agreed to a three-year contract Friday morning with Mariucci.

"I think everything's positive," Rathman said while cleaning out his office. "I think things happen for a reason. I just felt there wasn't an opportunity here and I had to see what kind of options I had.

"I'm not bitter or anything. I've had a great run the last six years as far as coaching. It's hard to believe it's all coming to an end."

Rathman, 40, met with Erickson on Thursday and was informed he did not have a future with the 49ers. Erickson told Rathman that he planned to bring in his Oregon State offensive coordinator, Tim Lappano, as running backs coach if he does not get the head-coaching job with the Beavers.

Erickson also will bring longtime assistant head coach Gregg Smith with him, most likely, to coach tight ends. Tom Batta, who held the position with the 49ers the last four seasons, is expected to step into a job in the team's personnel department.

Also, Erickson has hired Al Simmons off his Oregon State staff to coach cornerbacks. Secondary coach Brett Maxie will shift his focus to the safety positions.

Rathman was a hugely successful coach with the 49ers. The 49ers ranked in the top eight in rushing five of his six seasons. Also, Rathman's forte was schooling the 49ers in blitz pickups. Running backs Charlie Garner, Garrison Hearst and Fred Beasley were among the best in the league in pass protection.

"I think whoever's coaching them will be inheriting an awesome group," Rathman said. "My intentions were to stay here, but coach Erickson wanted to surround himself with his own people."

The new coach will also have to deal with diverse personalities. Rathman said one of the challenges was to keep Beasley and running back Kevan Barlow on the same page. Beasley, whose best friend is Hearst, had some heated disagreements with Barlow in the meeting rooms and Rathman had to play peacemaker.

During his playing career, Rathman was known for his hard-nosed play and his scuffed-up helmet. Although he never made a Pro Bowl team, he was a three-time selection to the All-John Madden team, signifying a type of cult status. He rushed for seven touchdowns in 1990 and had 73 receptions in 1989.

He was a starter on the 49ers' back-to-back winning teams in Super Bowl XXIII against Cincinnati and Super Bowl XXIV against Denver.

When asked if the organization has lost some history with his moving to Detroit, Rathman responded, "That's only for the writers to judge and the readers to judge. I don't think I'm in a position to judge that. All I know is this organization has been a part of me. Loyalty, integrity and respect -- those are the things that mean a lot to me. I've tried to live up to that."

RUMPH ACQUITTED

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Mike Rumph was acquitted of drunken driving Friday following a four-day trial.

He had faced a maximum sentence of six months in jail.

Miami Beach police said they stopped Rumph's car early July 6 after he left a South Beach nightclub. According to a breathalyzer test, his blood-alcohol level was .091 percent. The legal limit in Florida is .08 percent. He also failed field sobriety tests.

HUSKIES UPSET WITH NEUHEISEL

Washington Huskies coach Rick Neuheisel embarrassed the school by falsely denying he had interviewed for the San Francisco 49ers coaching job, athletic director Barbara Hedges said.

Hedges said the university would not censure or otherwise discipline Neuheisel, 42, although she expressed disappointment that he misled her.

---

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