The San Francisco 49ers choice to succeed former head coach Jim Harbaugh is the coach who immediately preceded him.
Defensive line coach Jim Tomsula was named the 49ers head coach today, team officials announced. He previously was the 49ers interim head coach for one game in 2010 after Mike Singletary was fired. The 49ers beat the Arizona Cardinals 38-7 in that game.
Harbaugh was then hired to take over in 2011.
Tomsula now takes over following the controversial departure of Harbaugh amid disagreements with the team’s front office.
Harbaugh was the 49ers most successful head coach in years, taking the team to three NFC Championship games and one Super Bowl while accumulating a 44-19-1 record over four seasons.
Team CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke called Harbaugh’s departure a mutual decision with ownership. Harbaugh went on to take over the football team at the University of Michigan.
“After conducting a thorough coaching search, and meeting with a number of outstanding candidates, Jim Tomsula clearly is the right man to lead this team,” York said in a statement. “Jim is a great teacher and a tremendous mentor who conducts himself with great class and integrity.”
Tomsula has worked with the 49ers for eight seasons as defensive line coach except for the single game when he was head coach. He has no previous experience as a head coach or a defensive coordinator in the NFL.
His defensive line has been dominant, ranking fourth in the league in rushing yards allowed per game since he came on board in 2007, according to team officials.
Tomsula may not have head coaching experience, but he was head coach of the NFL Europa team the Rhein Fire in 2006 and was defensive coordinator for the Berlin Thunder for two seasons, where he helped win World Bowl XII.
Tomsula lives in San Jose with his wife, Julie, two daughters, Britney and Brooke, and son Bear.
Scott Morris, Bay City News
