The Willow Glen Resident

Photograph by Skye Dunlap

Fast Times: Bill McPherson (right) discussed coaching style, Bill Walsh and Joe Montana--and found time to talk about the old days with friend Rob Selvi (left).

Glen coach provides glimpse inside the S.F. 49ers' huddle

McPherson has been with 49ers since 1979

By Michelle Ku

Ahorde of football fans showed up to see Bill McPherson, defensive assistant coach for the San Francisco 49ers, speak at Bellarmine College Preparatory on May 6. And then there were McPherson's former classmates who wanted to relive the glory days.

"He called me up [last week] and said, 'Let's meet at The Hut at 10:30 a.m. for a warm-up,' " said McPherson of one former Santa Clara University classmate, chuckling. The Hut, a bar located next to the university, was and still is a popular hangout for Santa Clara students.

Event organizers said about 160 people showed up at the May 6 luncheon, put on by Bellarmine's Alumni Council.

"I'm a big fan of the 49ers," said Al Torres, another classmate of McPherson's who heard the coach's speech.

A Willow Glen resident and 1950 Bellarmine graduate, McPherson, a 49ers coach for nearly 20 years, spoke about his experiences with the National Football League.

McPherson has been with the 49ers since 1979. He was the assistant head coach for the last three years and has also served as the defensive coordinator and the coach for the team's linebackers and defensive line. He has coached all five of the 49ers' Superbowl championship teams and worked with the last three 49ers head coaches: Bill Walsh, George Seifert and Steve Mariucci.

"We wanted to bring Bill to speak this year because it's his second year under a new coach. We wanted to hear if there was a new coaching style under Mariucci or not," said Brian Stenhouse, Bellarmine's alumni director and a 1988 Bellarmine graduate. "This was an opportunity to get insight into what goes on in the huddle."

McPherson delivered on his promise of bringing a 49er player to the event by bringing Junior Bryant, the 49ers defensive end who is slated to take over Dana Stubblefield's starting position.

"Junior's my conscience on the 49er team. He's the type of guy you want on your team," McPherson said as he spoke about the two foundations Bryant has created. One is to help needy children in his home state of Nebraska, and the other aids a burn center in San Francisco. When Bryant was in high school, he suffered burns on more than 40 percent of his body.

"[McPherson's] been really instrumental in my development, along with my Pee-wee coach, but I am a little shorter due to all of his headbutt drills. He really likes those headbutt drills," Bryant quipped.

During his presentation titled "San Francisco 49ers Football: A Look at the Past, Present and Future," McPherson joked about his high school and college days and his time as a football coach for Bellarmine, Santa Clara University, UCLA, the Philadelphia Eagles and the 49ers.

"I was fortunate enough to be hired by him," McPherson said of Walsh. "He's a brilliant man who was great at setting up a winning program. We're still on the same program he created. [Green Bay Packers head coach Mike] Holmgren uses the same program. [Denver Broncos head coach Mike] Shanahan uses the same program. [New Oakland Raiders head coach Jon] Gruden is a Walsh disciple as well."

Even though Mariucci uses the same system set up by Walsh and maintained by Seifert, his coaching style is different, McPherson said. "Mariucci is a great guy to work for. He's a family man, and he knows his football. He's very conscious during the season about getting you out of there and home with your families."

During Take Your Daughter to Work Day a few weeks ago, Mariucci made it an event for the whole family. There were clowns, balloons and other things for the kids, McPherson said.

McPherson also discussed some of the great 49ers defensive players he has been involved with, including Jack "Hacksaw" Reynolds, Fred Dean, Ronnie Lott, Michael Carter, Charles Haley and Chris Doleman.

Looking toward the future, McPherson said that Carmen Policy would be running the club through this upcoming football season and that he didn't know if Walsh would be back in the future. "If Walsh is involved, then so might Joe Montana. If Montana is involved, it wouldn't be a day-to-day thing."

This is the fourth time McPherson has spoken at a Bellarmine alumni event, Stenhouse said.

"I like to do what I can for the school and I really enjoy it. I owe Bellarmine a tremendous amount," McPherson said.

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