49ers release Mariucci from final year of contract

[Dazedncnfz]

Steve Mariucci is out as head coach of the San Francisco 49ers.

49ers general manager Terry Donahue told ESPN.com's John Clayton today that Mariucci has been released from the final year of his contract and no longer is the team's head coach.

Sources told Clayton that there were philosophical differences between Mariucci and John York, the owner's representative, about Mariucci's role within the organization. Sources said that Mariucci had been asking for the title of vice president of football operations.

Former Vikings coach Dennis Green and 49ers defensive coordinator Jim Mora Jr. might be candidates to replace Mariucci.

The 49ers' season ended on a disappointing note with a 31-6 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday in the NFC divisional playoffs.

After Sunday's loss, York reiterated that the 49ers wanted Mariucci to return for the 2003 season. At the time, Mariucci was also adamant that he wants to coach the team next season -- even if the two sides could not agree on an extension.

[fntsyrookie]

It should be pretty interesting to see who gets the 49ers job. I'm thinking Denny Green might get it. Only time will tell I guess.

[JayM09]

very big news, now hopefully all the coaching changes will start taking shape.

[VIPER]

I heard Mooch might be wanting an analyst job with some network. Why wouldn't the Jags think about getting him??

[Petey]

I think it will be the Jags or hopefully the Lions.

[DUKE]

I think the 49ers screwed him. They told the public that it was because Mariucci wanted more control, but he's saying he just wanted to coach the team, and wanted to play out his contract which ended after one more year. He said he went into their meeting w/ just aspirations of coaching the team and fullfilling his contract. If they wanted to fire him, they should have just fired him, rather then come out and say that Mooch wanted more control and all of that BS. I look for him to sit out a year and come back to coaching next year. He's already said that he's not interested in coaching the Jags, whom are supposedly close to naming Del Rio or whatever the hell his name is (Panthers D cordinator)