Nolan Agrees to Coach 49ers

Mike Nolan, the defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens the last three seasons, accepted his first head coaching job Monday and began to negotiate a contract to take over the San Francisco 49ers.

Nolan, 45, is the son of former 49er coach Dick Nolan, who led the franchise to its first playoff victory during eight seasons in charge.

Nolan, who will be the 15th head coach in 49er history, will replace Dennis Erickson, who was fired after the team finished 2-14 to tie the worst record in franchise history.

Nolan flew Monday to the Ohio home of team owner John York to work out a deal. Neither Nolan nor York returned phone calls.

Nolan is a protege of Dan Reeves, who hired the former Oregon safety for his first NFL job with the Denver Broncos in 1987. Reeves then made Nolan one of the youngest coordinators in league history with the New York Giants in 1993.

“It’s a good fit,” said Giant defensive end Michael Strahan, who played his first four NFL seasons under Nolan and Reeves. “I loved him back then, and I love him still. I’m glad he’s finally getting that opportunity. It’s probably a little later than I thought.”

Nolan has coached offense, defense and special teams during 19 seasons in the NFL. He has been a prime candidate for several head coaching spots in recent years.

He was with the Ravens since 2001, coaching the receivers for one season before leading their powerful defense. Baltimore ranked sixth in the NFL in total defense last season.

“I think he’s ready,” Reeves said from his Atlanta home. “He has certainly done a great job the last couple of years.”

Nolan’s hiring could evoke better times for the franchise, which once won five Super Bowls in 14 years.

Dick Nolan had a 56-56-5 record with the 49ers from 1968 to 1975, winning three consecutive division championships and reaching two NFC title games.

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The Baltimore Ravens are expected to hire former New York Giant coach Jim Fassel as offensive coordinator and former University of Washington coach Rick Neuheisel as quarterbacks coach, the Baltimore Sun reported in Monday’s editions.

Fassel was a senior consultant with the Ravens this season.

The Sun, citing two sources, said an agreement had been reached to make Fassel the replacement for Matt Cavanaugh, who resigned Jan. 3 under pressure.

Fassel was the Giants’ coach from 1997 to 2003 and led the team to the 2001 Super Bowl, where it lost to the Ravens.

Neuheisel was 66-30 in eight seasons at Colorado and Washington before being fired by the Huskies in June 2003 for participating in a big-money college basketball pool. The NCAA later cleared the coach and the Washington football program of wrongdoing.

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Former Oakland Raider center Barret Robbins, who is in a Miami hospital after being shot several times in the torso Saturday night during a struggle with a Miami Beach police officer, was arrested.

Miami Beach police said prosecutors are expected to file charges of battery on an officer and trespassing against Robbins, who disappeared the night before the 2003 Super Bowl.

Robbins, 31, was in critical but stable condition, said Drew Pittman, his former agent. Robbins was shot after being confronted in a building that houses a nightclub, gym and jewelry store.

In 2003, Robbins spent Super Bowl Sunday in a hospital and later said he had bipolar disorder.

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Coach Bill Parcells took the first big step in his off-season overhaul of the Dallas Cowboys, firing offensive line coach George Warhop and kicking coach Steve Hoffman.

Hoffman had arrived in Dallas in 1989 as part of former coach Jimmy Johnson’s first group of assistants.