General Coaching Options

I think given the fact that we allowed 90 points in 2 weeks, and scored 6 in 2 weeks, it's fair to at least consider what other options exist.

Current Roster:
Jim Tomsula - I think out of respect for what seems like a nice guy, we should at least entertain the idea that he sticks around. The benefit is continuity. Maybe he needs a real chance, with a new QB, some help on the o-line, etc. The issue is that he's not an NFL head coach. Slice it how you will, Tomsula is not outsmarting BB or Tomlin in the SB.

College:
Urban Meyer - The only real question here is if he would leave college, and if he would, why this job would appeal to him over the Colts or Dolphins, who already have QBs. This is a loooooooooong shot, but it needs to be mentioned that he's the clear-cut most interesting candidate out there. Not many college coaches work out, and this could be a bust, but his ceiling is unlimited. One of the great football minds in the game. Would he know how to use Kaep? hmmmm...

Kevin Sumlin - He's built quite a program, but has he really done enough to be in that conversation with Carrol, Harbaugh, Saban, and Kelly, with college coaches that the NFL can't wait to test out. He's clearly managed QB development well, getting 2 drafted in the 1st round. He's also done well with offensive linemen. Also no indication that he'll be leaving his post, but it's not impossible.

David Shaw - How has his Stanford compared to Harbaugh's? Surprisingly, not bad. He's known a quality offensive mind, and certainly has a very disciplined team. We lack all of this.

Jim Mora Jr - The good? Niner roots, what he's done with UCLA, some success with ATL and pedigree. The bad? NFL HC resume isn't overly impressive, and a great owner in Paul Allen decided that he should go in a different direction. Maybe Mora got the additional experience he needed, and is ready for a return. After all, Carroll was fired by the great Kraft. But maybe he has no reason to leave UCLA.

Nick Saban - Not the likeliest candidate to return to the NFL, but why not mention him? But not my first pick, since the QB has never been a part of his repertoire. However, there's no denying what the man has done. One of the most dominant college coaches of all time, and a very respected coach by BB.

Current Assistants
Teryl Austin - While the Lions aren't experiencing the same success now, as they were last year, Austin is still very much in the mix. A thorough resume of coaching defensive backs and defenses, Austin seems ready. What bothers me is that he's a defensive coach (not a problem in general, but I assume we'll be starting over at QB, and will need someone ready to coach him up. Don't want the revolving door at OC again). I also don't see that signature about him resume. Not like he coached the 2012 Seahawks, or their secondary, and not like the figured out the 16-0 Pats in the SB. Just another defensive assistant. So many have failed.

Kyle Shannahan - Unlike Austin, Shannahan has some "signature" wins on his resume. He made the worthless RGIII the rookie of the year over Luck and Wilson, got Hoyer to look like a legit starter, and is now resurrecting the Falcons offense to dominance. He looks like he's 15, but that's the biggest knock, The guy has proven he can coach, and coach's kids usually do pretty well for themselves. I like this candidate a lot. If only he looked like an adult...

Greg Roman - I think Roman has earned consideration. Unfortunately, we closed that door. If Roman's performance with the niners wasn't convincing enough, Geep's performance certainly is.

Josh McDaniels - This is the one that's circled on Jed's wall. McDaniels has a big head, has failed miserably at the role before, has an annoying face, and really really really knows offensive football. I'm still waiting for a BB assistant to succeed in a role outside the Pats, but McDaniels is certainly the most likely. So many signature stats on his resume...now can they be replicated without TB and BB? Plus, didn't he turn us down last year? Ah yes, no one likes working for York.

Pep Hamilton - Popular name for some time is getting less popular. He's been tied to Luck his whole career, and people will be weary. However, he's still a smart football coach, been around some solid coaches, and has helped develop Luck into one of the better young QBs in the game. He's an interesting name to keep in mind, once everyone else turns us down.

Hue Jackson - Interesting choice. Was clearly not ready to be HC, Owner, GM, etc. overnight, but has always been an impressive offensive coach. With the right experience and the right structure around him, Hue is an interesting option. His Palmer trade may have been a disaster, but he had the right idea. You rebuild with a QB. It's amazing, but some people still don't fully recognize that.

Vance Joseph - While he hasn't been a coordinator yet, the name has been mentioned around the league for years now. He may be the rare position coach who'll get a jump right into coaching. On the downside, those guys fail more often than not. Perhaps we should keep a close eye on him for a DC position. Or if the niners stick to their current trends, maybe they'll hire him to be a TEs coach...but that's a different topic altogether.

Kris Richard - A little too early, I know, but this guy has a real future in the NFL. This was the DBs coach for the best secondary of all time, comprised largely for late round picks, and undrafted FAs. Maybe if we have the bad sense to let Tomsula bake for another year, we can come back to this candidate in 2017. Ghosh he's impressive...but maybe not quite seasoned enough.

Former Coaches
Mike Smith - Let's forget all the guys who have been retired for 15 years, and working an commentators. The one guy of interest is Mike Smith. A good coach, who didn't quite rebuild after his team lost key pieces. That just happens sometimes. Reminds me a lot of John Fox and the success he had in Denver, after a few down years in Carolina. Not the most exciting hire on earth, but would be solid.


My top choices are Meyer (we have no shot, but he remain my top pick by far), Sumlin and Shannahan. Thoughts?

sad that we have to even have this discussion

Originally posted by susweel:
sad that we have to even have this discussion

we should of started this discussion the day Tomsula got hired. Did anyone really think that this was a "Steve Kerr" like hire? Please...

Originally posted by RollinWith21n52:

Originally posted by susweel:
sad that we have to even have this discussion

we should of started this discussion the day Tomsula got hired. Did anyone really think that this was a "Steve Kerr" like hire? Please...

still can't believe that idiot York compared him to Steve Kerr. smh

1) Jim Mora Jr
2) Urban Meyer
3) David Shaw

I wanted to hire Rex Ryan or Todd Bowles both are doing pretty good right now. Im not sure who I want yet but I think we need to get an offensive guy who can develop a QB.

Like I've said before , we need to hire a head coach with an offensive background, myself and other 49ers fans are tired of the revolving door at offensive coordinator , when we have a HC with a defensive background, someone usually swoops up our OC when we have success and the process of finding a new OC is a real pain, new language & terminology are usually the culprits that slow the development of our offense when we are forced to do this ....it kept our teams from hitting the ground running due to installing a new system year after year ...and the offense always suffers because of it , look where we are at now, we are in the same hole we dig for ourselves almost season after season, it stopped when we had Harbaugh and Roman, and thanks to Jed and Trent, continuity is a luxury we never have ....but I imagine we will hire ANOTHER defensive minded HC after Jimmy T is sent packing, and our offense will continue to sputter and never get the chance to grow , this sadly has become the norm

Originally posted by susweel:
I wanted to hire Rex Ryan or Todd Bowles both are doing pretty good right now. Im not sure who I want yet but I think we need to get an offensive guy who can develop a QB.

"offensive guy who can develop a QB." agreed. But you wanted Rex Ryan for that purpose?

Doubt any quality nfl coaches/coordinators will want to have this FO as their bosses. More likely a college coach who wants to make the jump to the nfl

No big name coach will come in this train wreck of a franchise without a new GM and guarantees he can do his job. If this GM and ownership can run out of town a coach whose worst showing was 8-8 for basically being an arsehole (which he was), then who's going to risk taking up a rebuilding project with a QB with shattered confidence and no surrounding talent?

The only people who will be interested will be the desperate, the totally unproven and/or the long shots. I.e. the Tomsulas of this world.

It's tough to admit it, but we're the Dolphins West.

Originally posted by paulk205:
No big name coach will come in this train wreck of a franchise without a new GM and guarantees he can do his job. If this GM and ownership can run out of town a coach whose worst showing was 8-8 for basically being an arsehole (which he was), then who's going to risk taking up a rebuilding project with a QB with shattered confidence and no surrounding talent?

The only people who will be interested will be the desperate, the totally unproven and/or the long shots. I.e. the Tomsulas of this world.

It's tough to admit it, but we're the Dolphins West.

getting the #1 overral pick, with Goff entering the draft, may be our best hope for attracting a good offensive coach.

Hope they get rid of balkee first

I want a HC with a sharp offensive mind who can put together an equally sound staff in all phases of the game which can develop our young players (those currently on the team and those we acquire in the future). All this said, I don't think we have the ownership who can find the right people to take us back to respectability.

Originally posted by RollinWith21n52:


Pep Hamilton - Popular name for some time is getting less popular. He's been tied to Luck his whole career, and people will be weary. However, he's still a smart football coach, been around some solid coaches, and has helped develop Luck into one of the better young QBs in the game. He's an interesting name to keep in mind, once everyone else turns us down.

f**k that. This guy is terrible and is finally getting the criticism he has long deserved, he'll be lucky to finish the season as the Colts OC. Let him go back to college.

Originally posted by RollinWith21n52:

Did anyone really think that this was a "Steve Kerr" like hire? Please...

Lol yep, it was said on this board.