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San Francisco 49er Head Coach Mike Nolan – Fired!

Mike Singletary, the legendary Chicago Bears middle linebacker, has taken over.  Reports from the San Francisco chronicle just came out.

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Here’s a biography from San Francisco 49er’s team website of Mike Nolan:

Mike Nolan

Head Coach

When Mike Nolan took over San Francisco’s head coaching reins in 2005, he knew the expectations laid out in front of him were immense. Walking into an organization that had no recent history of success was one thing, but joining one of professional football’s most storied franchises put a greater responsibility on his shoulders.

Nolan set lofty goals to get the club back into the League’s upper echelon while carrying on the winning tradition set by many celebrated players and coaches from the past, including his father, Dick Nolan, former 49ers head coach from 1968-75.

“There is an expectation level of performance and we have a responsibility to past players,” Nolan confirmed. “That is the responsibility of the players, coaches and the entire organization to get back on track.”
Nolan welcomed the task and challenged his team to capture the NFC West title, a goal that he says will not change.

“When you go forward, there is no choice in the leadership role,” Nolan boldly stated. “You have one choice, and that’s to lead and you don’t lead from a loser’s perspective. You lead from a winner’s perspective.”

Nolan’s burning desire to win was the exact ingredient Owners Denise and John York were looking to add to the 49ers organization when hiring the franchise’s 15th head coach on January 19, 2005. It marked the same exact date his father, Dick, was hired by the 49ers 37 years earlier. Growing up under the wing of his father, who captured three straight NFC West Division Championships (1970-72) in San Francisco, gave him an early desire to lead a life dedicated to football and family.

“When I was named the head coach of the San Francisco 49ers, it fulfilled a lifelong dream to follow in my father’s footsteps,” Nolan said. “I have always considered myself one of the 49ers Faithful having grown up in the Bay Area, I can say that I was once a fan as well.”

Mike and Dick Nolan became the fourth NFL family along with Don and David Shula, Jim Sr. and Jim Mora Jr., and Wade and Bum Phillips to have a father and son handle head coaching roles and the only ones to coach with the same franchise. Some of Mike Nolan’s most vivid childhood memories were watching from his father’s shadow on the practice field and in the locker room and building relationships with players who were some of the greatest to ever play the game.

“Mike was nine years old when I played here when his dad was hired,” 49ers Hall of Fame LB Dave Wilcox said. “He used to hang around the locker room. The way he coaches sounds exactly like his dad. Very thorough, knew what he wanted to do, knew he was going to get there. So I’m convinced that he’ll do that.”

Said owner John York, “I totally believe in what we started under Mike Nolan when he was hired three years ago. We’ve had some ups and downs. That’s part of this process. We have to learn from the downs, and get better. I believe we have, and I look forward to our success under Mike’s leadership going forward.”

THE ROOT OF ALL VALUES
Nolan has playing experience and more than 26 years of coaching notched on his belt. Over that span, he’s learned that character and heart can be more significant than mere talent alone. Personally filling the roles of both student and mentor also instituted Nolan’s intense desire to see every individual player coached as though they were part of the starting lineup.

After playing football at Woodside (CA) High School, he walked-on to the football team at the University of Oregon. One day at practice Oregon’s quarterback ran the option and was tackled by the team’s safety. Both suffered injuries and the back-up quarterback, who was the team’s second-string safety, stepped in as the new leader in the pocket. Just two days later, Oregon’s third-string safety flunked out of school. In the unexpected twist of fate, Nolan went from a fourth-string walk-on to a starting safety in one of the nation’s toughest football conferences, the Pacific-8 (Now the Pac-10). He grabbed his chance, took advantage of his coaches’ principles, and started three years on scholarship for the Ducks.

Since then he believes one of a coach’s most significant responsibilities is to make sure every man on his roster is ready to compete.

“Our coaching mandate is that if you are in a 49ers uniform, you will be coached, prepared and ready to play whether you are a first-round pick or a backup player,” Nolan said. “Our coaches are dedicated teachers that are skilled in getting everybody on this team ready to play.”

The 49ers had high expectations in 2007 following a jump from 4-12 to 7-9 in 2006, but an injury riddled season produced a disappointing 5-11 record. Despite the record, the 49ers did have some outstanding individual performances with rookie LB Patrick Willis setting an NFL record for tackles, a Pro Bowl berth and being named the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year. P Andy Lee earned Pro Bowl recognition after one of the greatest punting seasons in NFL history. RB Frank Gore, despite battling an ankle injury for most of the year, had his second consecutive 1,000-yard season with 1,102 yards.

“While we were not where we wanted to be in 2007, we did have some strong individual performances,” said Nolan. “In 2008, we need to see the individual success turn into team success.”

After just three seasons in San Francisco, Nolan has revived the 49ers’ roster with high-intensity, passionate, character players.

“When my father was head coach of the 49ers, I was fortunate enough to spend time with 49ers greats like John Brodie, Gene Washington, Dave Wilcox and Jimmy Johnson. The reason I bring up those names is because I am often asked why I am a coach. A lot of coaches say that it’s because they love the game, but seldom do they actually reflect on why they love the game. I realized and recognized that it was those players’ passion and intensity that struck me as a child and made me want to be part of the game of football.” -Head Coach Mike Nolan

BUILDING AN IMPRESSIVE RÉSUMÉ
Much of Nolan’s success as a leader and acute defensive mind was showcased in his previous position as the defensive coordinator with the Baltimore Ravens. During his impressive stint in Baltimore, Nolan’s defense yielded nine Pro Bowl starters in 2003-04. Over that span, his stingy defensive units also produced two NFL Defensive Players of the Year in S Ed Reed (2004) and LB Ray Lewis (2003).

In 2004, Nolan’s defense finished tied for second in the NFL in average rush per carry (3.6 yards). The Ravens defense allowed only 16.8 points per game, good for fourth in the AFC.

Nolan’s unit had 34 total takeaways, including 13 interceptions. Reed was named the Associated Press NFL Defensive Player of the Year after earning 20 votes from a national panel of writers and broadcasters who cover pro football to make him the first safety to win the award in 20 years. He led the NFL with nine interceptions and set an NFL mark with 358 return yards on those picks. Reed joined LB Ray Lewis, CB Cris McAlister and LB Terrell Suggs as players selected to start in the 2004 Pro Bowl.

In 2003, Nolan’s defense was among the NFL’s best, finishing third overall. Baltimore ranked first in the AFC with 17 fumble recoveries, led the NFL in sacks (47) and tied for first in the AFC and second in the NFL with 41 takeaways. The Ravens defense allowed just 281 points and grabbed 24 interceptions. Nolan was named to USA Today’s All-Joe Team following the 2003 season and NFL Assistant Coach of the Year by the Football Digest. During the 2003 season, Baltimore allowed the fewest yards per play (4.2) and fourth fewest passing yards (175.3 per game) in the NFL. Lewis was named the AP’s NFL Defensive Player of the Year and was the leading vote-getter on AP’s All-Pro team (49 of 50 votes). Reed, one of eight Ravens to make the Pro Bowl, tied a Ravens’ record with seven interceptions and Suggs was named the AP’s NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year while setting a Ravens’ rookie record with 12 sacks.

Nolan was promoted to Baltimore’s defensive coordinator in 2002 after originally joining the Ravens in 2001 on the other side of the ball as the team’s wide receivers coach. Brian Billick had envisioned Nolan as a defensive coordinator, and he moved into that position with the departure of Marvin Lewis.

The 2002 season was especially challenging for him due to the fact that the Ravens newcomers out-numbered the starting veterans on defense. Eight rookies comprised the defensive roster by season’s end, while Lewis was lost to a shoulder injury in October. Although the team faced adversity, Baltimore finished first in the AFC with a team-record 25 interceptions, second in the NFL in fewest yards per rush (3.7), third in the NFL in fewest yards allowed on first down (4.87 yards—best in the AFC) and third in the AFC with 31 takeaways. Linebacker Peter Boulware was double and triple-teamed with Lewis and defensive end Michael McCrary (knee) out; however, Boulware still logged a career and team-high 59 sacks including seven during the 2002 season.

Prior to tutoring the Ravens wide receivers, Nolan had a one-year stay as the New York Jets defensive coordinator in 2000, a position he also held with the Washington Redskins (1997-99) and the New York Giants (1993-96). Under Nolan’s tutelage, the Jets defense rebounded to tenth overall (tied with Philadelphia) in the league—11 positions better than the previous year.

“When I was the GM of the Jets we had a good relationship,” former Jets Head Coach and General Manager Bill Parcells remembered about Mike Nolan. “I knew his dad and I liked his dad. I just kind of took to Mike myself. I think he’s a good, young coach and I like him very much personally. I think he’s a football guy. He grew up with it. It’s very important to him and I think that he has a lot of passion for it.”

From 1997-99 Nolan was the defensive coordinator in Washington. In 1997, the Redskins allowed the eighth-fewest points in the NFL and finished third overall in pass defense.

Though his three-year spell with the Redskins had plenty of highs and lows, Nolan credits his experiences there as the catalyst he used to build his present foundation.

“I didn’t learn as much football at Washington, but I learned more than I could have any place else as far as personnel, structure and chemistry,” he remembered. “That was one of the best experiences of my coaching career, looking back on it.”

Prior to serving on the Redskins staff, he spent four seasons as defensive coordinator under then-head coach Dan Reeves for the New York Giants (1993-96). In Nolan’s first season as the League’s youngest defensive coordinator at the time (32 years old), the Giants defense allowed the fewest points in the NFL (205). Nolan cut his professional coaching teeth under Reeves, serving on his staff in Denver from 1987-92 as the Broncos linebackers coach and special teams coach/defensive assistant. During that span, Nolan reached the Super Bowl twice with the Broncos.

“Mike has a good personality and he relates well to players because he has been around them,” Reeves said. “Mike played in high school and college and almost made it with us in Denver. He has coached special teams, offense and defense, so he’s had a lot of experience coaching all three phases. I think that will pay dividends for him.”

Nolan launched his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater, Oregon in 1981 after participating in the 1981 Broncos’ training camp as a defensive back under Reeves. Within five years, he held positions as a linebackers or defensive backs coach at Stanford, Rice and LSU.

FOOTBALL ALL IN THE FAMILY
Football and family have always been one in the same for the Nolan’s. The family’s ties to his profession have only deepened since Nolan became a head coach.

Because coaching hours run deep into the night and begin at the break of dawn, Nolan and his wife, Kathy, found a way to increase time spent together. Kathy drives him to work in the morning and picks him up at the end of the day. The commute enables the couple to spend some extra time together.

“One thing I learned from my father growing up was how he treated my mother,” he explained. “My father loved my mother more than you could ever imagine, and I always saw that.

“That’s helped me in my own life. We’ve moved nine times in the last 24 years. It is important that we keep the family together.”

Nolan’s family members have also been his biggest supporters, cheering him along every step of the way. His naming as the head coach in San Francisco in 2005 marked the most special stop for the Nolan family yet. The night before Mike’s first game, his oldest brother, Rook, met him at the team hotel with a gift, their father Dick’s 1956 NFL championship ring that he earned as a defensive back with the New York Giants. Rook received the ring when he moved out of the family house. Rook, who took his name after being born during his father’s rookie season in 1954, thought his younger brother should wear the ring during his first regular season game as a head coach. Mike wore the ring with the face down close to his palm and went on to lead the 49ers to an opening day 28-25 win against division rival St. Louis on September 11, 2005.

The Nolan family appreciates the process that lies ahead for Mike in winning another 49ers championship. But they have no doubt in his leadership and drive to get the job done.

“He understands players and can help them with any problems that they have on or off the field,” Mike’s father, and biggest supporter, Dick said at the time of his hiring. “He knows his stuff and is very organized. I never dreamed he would be the head football coach of a team I coached. I never thought it would be that way. It is great to see that happen.”

Mike and Kathy Nolan have four children: sons, Michael and Christopher, and daughters, Laura and Jennifer. The family resides in Saratoga, CA.

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