Bill Walsh (NFL)

Bill Walsh (born November 30, 1931) is a former American football head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and Stanford University. He has a home in Pacific Grove, California.

Related Topics:
November 30 - 1931 - American football - San Francisco 49ers - Stanford University - Pacific Grove, California

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Walsh attended San Jose State University in San Jose, California, and his first coaching appointment was with Washington Union High School in Fremont, California. He would later serve as an assistant coach under Paul Brown with the Cincinnati Bengals and Tommy Prothro with the San Diego Chargers.

Related Topics:
San Jose State University - San Jose, California - High School - Fremont, California - Paul Brown - Cincinnati Bengals - Tommy Prothro - San Diego Chargers

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Walsh also had two separate tenures as head football coach at Stanford, from 1977 to 1978 and from 1992 to 1994.

Related Topics:
Stanford - 1977 - 1978 - 1992 - 1994

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1979, Walsh was appointed head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, and under him the 49ers won Super Bowl championships in 1982, 1985 and 1989. Walsh served as 49ers head coach for twelve years and during his tenure he and his coaching staff perfected the style of play known popularly as the West Coast offense. He was responsible for drafting Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Charles Haley, and Jerry Rice. Walsh's successes with the 49ers were rewarded when he was elected to the Professional Football Hall of Fame in 1993.

Related Topics:
1979 - Super Bowl - 1982 - 1985 - 1989 - West Coast offense - Joe Montana - Ronnie Lott - Charles Haley - Jerry Rice - Hall of Fame - 1993

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Among great football luminaries, perhaps none have had the same lasting impact or impeccable record. He is known as an offensive mastermind and his dramatic turnaround of the 49ers in the 1980s established the franchise as latter-day football's symbol of continual dominance and success. While he steered the team to just 3 Super Bowls, Walsh's hand-picked successor George Seifert took the reins to Walsh's team, riding his coattails to the tune of two more Super Bowl wins.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Many of his assistant coaches went on to be successful coaches in their own right, including Seifert, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, Ray Rhodes, and Dennis Green. These coaches in turn have their own disciples who have utilized Walsh's West Coast system, making it the offensive system of choice for more than half of today's NFL squads.

Related Topics:
Mike Holmgren - Mike Shanahan - Ray Rhodes - Dennis Green

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Walsh served the 49ers as Vice President and General Manager from 1999 to 2001 and was a special consultant to the team for three years afterwards. In 2004, Walsh was appointed as special assistant to the athletic director at Stanford.

Related Topics:
1999 - 2001 - 2004

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Bill Walsh is also the author of several books, is active as a motivational speaker, and taught classes at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~