49ers hire Erickson
February 11, 2003
Mercury News
Dennis Erickson was the surprise ending to the 49ers' search for a new coach.
Erickson is leaving his job at Oregon State to succeed fired Steve Mariucci. He becomes the 14th head coach in the 49ers' history.
Erickson, formerly coach of the Seattle Seahawks, informed Oregon State athletic director Bob DeCarolis on Tuesday morning that he was leaving to take the 49ers' job, said Hal Cowan, a school spokesman.
"He told us this morning he's taking it," Cowan said. "He's a high-profile guy and every year somebody has come after him."
However, Erickson was never formally acknowledged by the 49ers as a candidate for the job, which had been open since team director John York fired Mariucci on Jan. 15. Mariucci, who was let go in a rift with York, is now coach of the Detroit Lions.
Erickson beat out defensive coordinators Jim Mora of the 49ers, Ted Cottrell of the New York Jets and Greg Blache of the Chicago Bears. The three were the only candidates the team publicly confirmed were in the running for the job during the nearly monthlong search for a replacement for Mariucci.
There was no immediate comment from the 49ers.
The 49ers have been without a coach since firing Steve Mariucci on Jan. 15, three days after the team's 31-6 second-round loss to eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay. Mariucci, who was dismissed after clashing with York, received a five-year, $25 million deal from the Detroit Lions, matching Washington's Steve Spurrier as the highest-paid NFL coach.
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