| Walsh’s collegiate impact
was most notably felt at Stanford University where he worked with
three generations of student athletes serving as both football coach
and Special Assistant to the Athletic Director.
After taking over a struggling and demoralized
49ers franchise in 1979, he crafted a team in his own image and
invigorated an organization that became the flagship team in professional
football.
In his first season as head coach of the 49ers
the team had 2 wins and 14 losses. The next season, the 49ers demonstrated
progress as he inserted 2nd year quarterback Joe Montana into a
starter’s role and the team improved to a 6–10 record.
In his third year as head coach, Walsh led the franchise to its
first of five Super Bowl Titles, beating the Cincinnati Bengles
20-16 in Detroit.
By the end of the decade he had guided the 49ers
to three Super Bowl Titles (XVI, XIX, and XXIII), was named NFL
Coach of the Year twice (1981 and 1984) and was named NFL Coach
of the Decade for the 1980’s.
His legacy in professional football will be his
creation of the “West Coast Offense.” This style of play
was subsequently copied in some form by almost every team in the
NFL. His “coaching tree” extends to over sixty coaches
who have gone on from his tutelage to impact professional football,
both on the field and at every administrative level of the game.He
was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993 and was an
invaluable resource over the years to players, coaches, administrators,
and league officials.
Walsh’s greatest accomplishments in football
may have been a result of his zeal for other sports. He was an avid
boxer and fought over 75 amateur fights. Walsh credited his approach
and passion for football to that of a fighter who wears down an
opponent during the first several rounds and then strikes him down
with the final punch when he is too weakened to defend himself.
As physical as that may seem, Walsh’s greatness
was as much from the cerebral side of the game. His misdirection
and trickery in play calling were staples of his playbooks.
One example was when Lawrence Taylor came on the
pro football scene destined to run over, around and through an undersized
49ers offensive line. Walsh and renowned offensive line coach Bobb
McKittrick conceived a brilliant strategy to utilize the quickness
of guard John Ayers and swing him over on pass protection plays,
thereby neutralizing a dominant player on defense.
His playing days on the gridiron included the
College of San Mateo and San Jose State.
Walsh received his bachelor’s degree from
San Jose State in 1955 and his master’s degree in education
in 1959, also from San Jose State.
Walsh began his coaching career at Washington
High School in Hayward, California. He then coached under Marv Levy
at The University of California at Berkeley, John Ralston at Stanford,
Al Davis at the Oakland Raiders, Paul Brown at the Cincinnati Bengles,
and Sid Gilman at the San Diego Chargers.
An incomparable motivator, he will forever be
remembered for dressing as a bellhop and greeting his team upon
arrival at their first Super Bowl. His desire to loosen the tension
amongst players and coaches has been heralded as one of the great
off field moves in Super Bowl Week history.
Walsh was a highly sought after public speaker
who captivated audiences with his professorial appearance and charismatic
sense of humor. His ability to communicate effectively inside a
locker room or a boardroom was legendary.
He was the author of two books, Finding The Winning
Edge and Building A Champion.
Following a private service, there will be a public
celebration of his life at Monster Park in San Francisco on Friday
August 10, 2007 at 11AM. There will be free admission and parking
at the stadium.
More Information at www.coachwalsh.net
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