List of San Francisco 49ers head coaches

There have been 15 head coaches in the history of the San Francisco 49ers professional football franchise. The San Francisco 49ers franchise was formed in 1946 as a charter member of the All-America Football Conference (AAFC) before joining the National Football League (NFL) in 1950 after the AAFC merger with the NFL. Buck Shaw became the first head coach of the 49ers in 1946, serving for nine seasons—four in the AAFC and five in the NFL.cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/ShawLa.htm|title=Buck Shaw Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=2008-05-29] He coached a number of future College and Pro Football Hall of Famers, such as Frankie Albert, Joe Perry, Leo Nomellini, Y. A. Tittle, Bob St. Clair and Hugh McElhenny. [cite web|url=http://www.49ers.com/history/images/niners_alltime_starters.pdf|title=49ers Starters: Usual Starting Lineups—1950-06|work=San Francisco 49ers|accessdate=2008-06-01] In terms of tenure, Bill Walsh has coached more games (152) and more complete seasons (10) than any other head coach in 49ers franchise history. He led the 49ers to playoff appearances in seven seasons, three of which led to the Super Bowl championship, in 1981, 1984 and 1988. [cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2954719|title=Bill Walsh dies at 75; led 49ers to three Super Bowl titles|date=2007-07-31|work=ESPN.com|accessdate=2008-05-29] Jerry Rice, Joe Montana, Charles Haley, Ronnie Lott, Roger Craig, Fred Dean and Steve Young are among the players Walsh has coached in his career.ref label|Note1|a|a [cite news|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/30/sports/football/31walsh.html?ex=1343448000&en=1693c7625dabc4c4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss|title=Bill Walsh, Former 49ers Coach, Dies at 75|last=Goldstein|first=Richard|date=2007-07-30|work=The New York Times|accessdate=2008-06-01] [cite news|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2954719|title=Bill Walsh dies at 75; led 49ers to three Super Bowl titles|date=2007-07-31|work=ESPN.com|accessdate=2008-06-01] [cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/07/30/BAG57LR8OK21.DTL|title=Former 49er head coach Bill Walsh dies|last=FitzGerald|first=Tom|date=2007-07-30|work=The San Francisco Chronicle|accessdate=2008-06-01]

Three 49ers coaches—Dick Nolan, Walsh and George Seifert—have been named coach of the year by at least one major news organization.cite web|url=http://www.hickoksports.com/history/nflcoy.shtml|title=NFL Coach of the Year Award|last=Hickok|first=Ralph|date=2008-04-17|accessdate=2008-05-29] Walsh and Jack Christiansen are the only 49ers coaches currently in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. The team currently shares the record for most Super Bowl victories (five; three under Walsh, two under Seifert) [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/#playoffs|title=San Francisco 49ers Team Encyclopedia|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=2008-05-29] with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Dallas Cowboys, and is the only team with an undefeated record in multiple appearances in the Super Bowl. Twice in 49ers history has there been an "interim" head coach. Three games into the 1963 season, coach Red Hickey resigned and was replaced by Jack Christiansen. Christiansen coached the 49ers to a 2–9 record in the remainder of the seasoncite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1963.htm|title=1963 San Francisco 49ers Statistics & Players|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=2008-05-29] and came back to coach the team for four more years. In 1978, Pete McCulley was fired after coaching the 49ers to a 1–8 record.cite news|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/12/11/king.petrino/index.html|title=Petrino leaves Falcons|last=King|first=Peter|date=2007-12-11|work=Sports Illustrated|accessdate=2008-05-29] He was replaced by offensive coordinator Fred O'Connor, who was himself fired after leading the 49ers to one win in their final seven games.cite news|url=http://digitalnewspapers.libraries.psu.edu/Default/Skins/BasicArch/Client.asp?Skin=BasicArch&&AppName=2&enter=true&BaseHref=DCG/1979/01/10&EntityId=Ar00805|title=Walsh named 49ers coach|date=1979-01-10|work=Associated Press|accessdate=2008-05-29] The current head coach of the San Francisco 49ers is Mike Nolan. [cite web|url=http://www.49ers.com/team/coaches_detail.php?PRKey=15|title=Mike Nolan: Head Coach|publisher=San Francisco 49ers|accessdate=2008-05-29]

Key

Coaches

Notes

*note label|Note1|a|a Joe Montana, Fred Dean, Steve Young and Ronnie Lott are all Hall of Fame players who were coached by Bill Walsh at some point during their career. Charles Haley, is not a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, but he was selected to five Pro Bowls in his 14-year career. [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/H/HaleCh0.htm|title=Charles Haley Statistics|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=2008-06-01] Roger Craig, coached by Walsh from 1983 to 1988, was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. [cite web|url=http://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/C/CraiRo0.htm|title=Roger Craig Statistics|publisher=Sports-Reference|accessdate=2008-06-01] Another one of Walsh's players, wide receiver Jerry Rice, who played from 1985 to 2004, holds NFL records in receptions, receiving yards, touchdown receptions, all-purpose yards and total touchdowns. [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/history/randf/records/indiv/receiving|title=NFL Records – Individual Records: Receiving|work=NFL.com|accessdate=2008-06-01] [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/history/randf/records/indiv/touchdowns|title=NFL Records – Individual Records: Touchdowns|work=NFL.com|accessdate=2008-06-01] [cite web|url=http://www.nfl.com/history/randf/records/indiv/combined|title=NFL Records – Individual Records: Combined Yardage|work=NFL.com|accessdate=2008-06-01]
*note label|Note1|b|b The Win–Loss percentage is calculated using the formula: $frac\{Wins+frac\{1\}\{2\}Ties\}\{Games\}$
*note label|Note1|c|c On September 30, 1963, three games into the season, coach Red Hickey resigned and was replaced by Jack Christiansen. Christiansen coached the 49ers to two wins in the 11 remaining games in the season. He coached the 49ers for another four seasons.
*note label|Note1|d|d Midway through the 1978 season, head coach Pete McCulley was fired after leading the 49ers to a 1–8 record. He was replaced by his offensive coordinator Fred O'Connor, who was himself fired after coaching the 49ers to a 1–6 record during the remainder of the season.

References