Bill Walsh TOPICS: Athletics / Sports Motivation Leadership Team Building FEE CATEGORY:* 25.0k to 30.0k TRAVELS FROM: California Profile Request This Speaker

Bill Walsh: Profile

Bill Walsh, the man who took over a losing San Francisco 49ers team in 1979 and built it into the most successful NFL franchise over the last two decades, provides his knowledge, experience and eye for talent to the 49ers as a Consultant. He stepped down as Vice President/General Manager May 2, 2001.

Mr. Walsh returned to the organization as Vice President/General Manager January 20, 1999 with a plan to correct San Francisco's salary cap problems and restock the roster with young, talented players. Under his leadership, the 49ers landed 11 players in the 2000 draft, including five rookie starters on defense, and have trimmed the salary cap overruns to manageable levels without sacrificing too much talent. It was the second time the Hall of Famer was able to right the 49ers ship.

Under Bill Walsh's direction the 49ers experienced heights of victory never reached prior to his arrival as head coach in 1979. He was appointed the team's General Manager in 1982 and ascended to the role of President in 1985. During this period, Mr. Walsh was responsible for all major organizational decisions. During the 10-year tenure (1979-88), he laid the foundation of success that the 49ers have achieved over the last 20 years, including the beginning (1983) of an unprecedented streak of 16 consecutive 10-win seasons. Mr. Walsh was at the helm of one of the greatest success stories in the history of professional sports. In 1979, he took over a team that went 2-14 the previous season and transformed it into a Super Bowl champion in just three seasons.

Under Bill Walsh's direction, the 49ers won three Super Bowl titles (1981, '84 and '88), made seven NFC postseason appearances and claimed six NFC West division championships. He was twice named NFL Coach-of-the-Year (1981, 1984) and was later named NFL Coach-of-the-Decade for the 1980s.

In what has since become known as "The Drive," Coach Bill Walsh and Hall of Fame Quaterback Joe Montana, led the San Francisco 49ers to victory in a 12-play, 92-yard surge in the final seconds of the 1989 Super Bowl. As he described it in his book, Finding the Winning Edge:

"The Drive reflected what I love most about football: the artistry. People outside the profession sometimes find it hard to think of what we do in terms of orchestration, artistry and composition because of the brute force that is the game's nature and the finality of the competition. Yet it is this unique confluence of qualities that so captivates me and others who share this profession."

Mr. Bill Walsh became one of only 14 coaches in the history of professional football to be elected to the Hall of Fame, when he was enshrined in 1993. He compiled a .617 winning percentage with a 102-63-1 career record that included 10 wins in 14 postseason games. He was the first coach in team history to reach the 100-win plateau.

Bill Walsh's first collegiate head coaching job came at Stanford in 1977, where he directed the Cardinal to a 17-7 record and captured wins in the Bluebonnet and Sun Bowls during his two-year tenure. He returned to Stanford in 1992 and promptly led the Cardinal to a 10-3 record that concluded with a New Year's Day win over Penn State in the Blockbuster Bowl. It was the school's first New Year's Day bowl game victory in 21 years. He remained at Stanford through the 1994 season.

In 1994, Mr. Walsh was instrumental in the establishment and management of the World League of American Football, now known as NFL Europe. He has continued to serve the league as a consultant and representative in various NFL ventures.

Bill Walsh's impact on the coaching industry is apparent by the rise of former assistants, players and people who have come under his influence, including Dennis Green, Mike Holmgren, Mike Shanahan, Ray Rhodes, Jeff Fisher, Sam Wyche, Rod Dowhower, Bruce Coslet, Sherman Lewis, Brian Billick, Gary Kubiak, George Seifert, Jon Gruden, Paul Hackett, Tom Holmoe, Dwaine Board, Bobb McKittrick, Bill McPherson, Tom Rathman, Harry Sydney and Tom Lovat. In 1987, Mr. Walsh created the Minority Coaching Fellowship program that has produced, among others, Tyronne Willingham, Stanford's current head coach, Marvin Lewis, Baltimore's defensive coordinator and NFL assistants Bobby Turner, Don Martin and Don Treadwell. The NFL later adopted this Fellowship as a league-wide program.

After 10 seasons with San Francisco, Bill Walsh joined NBC Sports in 1989 and teamed with award-winning announcer Dick Enberg for three seasons as the network's top analyst on NFL and Notre Dame telecasts.

Bill Walsh earned a bachelor's degree (1955) and a master's in education (1959) from San Jose State. He is author of two books Bill Walsh: Finding the Winning Edge and Building a Champion.books Finding the Winning Edge and Building a Champion.

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