Bio

William Ernest "Bill" Walsh Born in Los Angeles, started his career in the San Francisco Bay Area as a running back for Hayward High School in Hayward.

Walsh attended College of San Mateo for two years as a quarterback. He then transferred to San Jose State University, where he played as a tight end and a defensive end. He also participated in intercollegiate boxing. Walsh graduated from San Jose State with a bachelor's degree in physical education in 1955. He served under Bob Bronzan as a graduate assistant coach on the Spartans football coaching staff and graduated with a master's degree in physical education from San Jose State in 1959. He also worked one year as an assistant on the Orlando Rangers in 1957, he helped the Rangers earn a berth in Silver Cup X. San Jose State University (July 30, 2007). 

Following graduation, Walsh coached at Washington High School in Fremont, leading the football and swim teams.

Walsh was coaching in Fremont when he interviewed for an assistant coaching position with Marv Levy, who had just been hired as the head coach at the University of California, Berkeley.

"I was very impressed, individually, by his knowledge, by his intelligence, by his personality and hired him," Levy said.

After Cal, he did a stint at Stanford as an assistant coach, before beginning his pro coaching career for the San Francisco 49ers and, during which time he popularized the West Coast offense.

Walsh went 10226331 with the 49ers, winning ten of his 14 postseason games along with six division titles, three NFC Championship titles, and three Super Bowls. He was named the NFL's Coach of the Year in 1981 and 1984. In 1993, he was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.