Bill Walsh (American football coach)

Bill Walsh (American football coach), by Wikipedia / CC BY SA 3.0

#1931 births

#2007 deaths

#American memoirists

#American motivational writers

#Cincinnati Bengals coaches

#California Golden Bears football coaches

#College football announcers

#National Football League announcers

#National Football League general managers

#Notre Dame Fighting Irish football broadcasters

Bill Walsh (American football coach)

William Ernest Walsh (November 30, 1931 – July 30, 2007) was an American football coach. He served as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers and the Stanford Cardinal football team, during which time he popularized the West Coast offense. After retiring from the 49ers, Walsh worked as a sports broadcaster for several years and then returned as head coach at Stanford for three seasons.

Walsh went 102–63–1 with the 49ers, winning 10 of his 14 postseason games along with six division titles, three NFC Championship titles, and three Super Bowls. He was named NFL Coach of the Year in 1981 and 1984. In 1993, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Born in Los Angeles, Walsh played running back in the San Francisco Bay Area for Hayward High School in Hayward.

Walsh played quarterback at the College of San Mateo for two seasons. (Both John Madden and Walsh played and coached at the College of San Mateo early in their careers.) After playing at the College of San Mateo, Walsh transferred to San José State University, where he played tight end and defensive end. He also participated in intercollegiate boxing. Walsh graduated from San Jose State with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1955. After two years in the U.S. Army participating on their boxing team, Walsh built a championship team at Washington High School in Fremont before becoming an assistant coach at Cal, Stanford and then the Oakland Raiders in 1966.

He served under Bob Bronzan as a graduate assistant coach on the Spartans football coaching staff an...

american football