Walsh still ahead of Kerr atop Bay Area’s Mount Rushmore of pro sports coaches
He’s got four championships. He’s the winningest coach in NBA postseason history. And he was recently named one of the NBA’s Top 15 coaches of all time.
Yes, Steve Kerr has carved out quite a remarkable career in just eight years with the Warriors. But it hasn’t been enough to get his face chiseled into the No. 1 spot on the side of our mythical Mount Rushmore of the Bay Area’s major professional sports coaches.
For now, Kerr remains slightly in the shadows of legendary 49ers coach Bill Walsh, who was bestowed the honor of being the head of our mountain’s hierarchy after voting by our panel of experts and our readers.
“As strategists, leaders of men, with a powerful and eternally compelling voice, Kerr and Walsh are equals in my mind. Walsh is my No. 1 strictly on longevity,” said Bruce Jenkins, a San Francisco Chronicle writer emeritus who’s been following the Bay Area sports scene since arriving on the Cal campus in 1966.
Walsh, who won three Super Bowls in San Francisco and played a significant role in two more titles, and Kerr are joined by Giants future Hall of Famer Bruce Bochy and Raiders Hall of Famer John Madden to comprise our Rushmore Four.
It took more than just similarly colored hair for Walsh to earn the same Rushmore spot George Washington fills in South Dakota.
Even though Walsh coached three of the 49ers’ five Super Bowl winning teams, retired Bay Area News Group columnist Carl Steward points out Walsh was really the catalyst behind all of them.
“Walsh gets the edge over Kerr because he scouted much of the 49ers’ talent and built his own championship teams,” Steward said. “He also took over a franchise that was destitute at the time he was hired. I also give Walsh much credit for the title they won the year after he retired, and really, since he was the guy who acquired (Steve) Young as well as (Jerry) Rice, the 1995 title as well.
“The Warriors were already on their way up with (Stephen) Curry, (Draymond) Green and (Klay) Thompson and had made the playoffs before Kerr arrived.”
Art Spander, who has covered more than 40 Super Bowls in his career and also covered the Warriors’ first title in 1975, also gave the nod to Walsh.
“Kerr is a fantastic coach,” Spander said. “His views of society fit well in Northern California. But Walsh changed a culture. An hour after The Catch, I caught up with Bill on the field at Candlestick: ‘You can stop writing we can’t win the big one,’ he said. And so we did.”
All of our panelists wrestled with the choice, some greatly. In the end, all but one chose Walsh. The exception was Mark Ibanez, the recently retired KTVU-TV sports anchor,
“Recency bias, probably,” he said when asked how Kerr rose to the top of his list, above Walsh.
“Both did a great job of sustaining their dynasties, but it was easier to do before the salary cap era,” Ibanez said, noting Walsh’s 49ers were buoyed by free-spending ownership. “The differentiator for me was I truly believe Kerr cares more on a personal level for his players as people. However, it’s hard to argue what an innovator Walsh was. Really a coin flip between the two.”
It was no easy task making heads or tails of who should be called the four greatest coaches in the 76-year history of major professional sports in the Bay Area.
We may have borrowed his concept, but we strove to be more inclusive than Mount Rushmore sculptor Gutzon Borglum, who decided if he was going to spend nearly 15 years teetering off granite cliffs in the Black Hills, he was damn well going to choose which presidents to depict.
We opted for a more democratic path. And the only laboring we did was borne of our love of a good sports argument.
The process began as we sifted through the 128 men who’ve coached our region’s pro sports teams since the 49ers arrived in 1946. Conversely, Borglum had just 30 presidents from which to choose for the real Mount Rushmore in 1927. Well, actually 29. Let’s be honest, Warren Harding was never an option.
We reached out to our readers as well as some of the most respected sports columnists and radio/television personalities the Bay Area’s seen over the decades. In addition to Jenkins, Steward, Spander and Ibanez, the panel included Joe Fonzi, Bud Geracie, Dave Newhouse, Monte Poole, Mark Purdy, Hal Ramey and Glenn Schwarz. Their votes in tandem with the reader vote determined the final four.
Here’s a look at the men we’ve all chosen to immortalize on our imaginary mountain:
1. BILL WALSH, 49ers:
Probably the most innovative coach in NFL history, there’s a reason Walsh was nicknamed “The Genius.”He created the “West Coast Offense,” a quick-hitting passing attack that revolutionized the game by ushering in a more pass-happy game. He led the 49ers to three Super Bowl titles and his teams went 102-63-1 in his 10 years with the 49ers (1979-88).
Why he’s high atop our mountain: “Bill Walsh is the greatest offensive mind in NFL history,” said Dave Newhouse, longtime Bay Area columnist and author.
“Not just for the Super Bowls, but also for the way he changed the whole trajectory for the franchise for the next 40 years,” said Mark Purdy, who spent nearly 40 years as a Mercury News columnist.
2. STEVE KERR, Warriors:
Don’t underestimate what his combination of compassion, humility, creativity and innate ability to connect with and inspire his players has done here. The man has nine NBA championship rings, including the four he earned while leading Golden State to titles in 2015, 2017, 2018 and two weeks ago. The first person in NBA history to win at least three titles as both a player and a coach, Kerr has led the Warriors to six NBA Finals in eight years and has the best postseason record – 93-34 (.732) – ever.
Why he’s high atop our mountain: “Even with all the talented players he’s had here, the thing about Kerr is he just pushes all the right buttons,” Purdy said.
“Kerr’s not George Washington, the first face on Mt. Rushmore, but the fact that it’s even up for discussion bespeaks uncommon greatness. Would another championship change the order? We’ll see, maybe a year from now,” said Bay Area News Group sports editor Bud Geracie.
3. BRUCE BOCHY, Giants:
After winning three World Series championships to become just the 10th manager in MLB history to win at least three World Series titles, Bochy has assured himself of a spot in the Hall of Fame at some point. He’s the only manager in MLB history to win at least 900 games with two franchises, including his 1,052 wins in San Francisco, the second-most in franchise history.
Why he’s high atop our mountain: “To be on this Mount Rushmore, you have to win championships. No Bay Area baseball manager has won more titles than Bochy.” Purdy said.
“Bochy’s record speaks for itself as the best of all Giants managers: three championships in five years, another World Series appearance with San Diego and surely a Hall of Famer someday. He was beloved by his players, and some of the stuff they pulled off was downright miraculous. Never a hint of controversy with this man. Good times and bad, he was always exactly the same,” said Jenkins.
4. JOHN MADDEN, Raiders:
Long before he became a legend in the video game world and in the broadcast booth, Madden was at the helm of a pro football’s winningest organization. His .759 winning percentage remains the best of any head coach in the NFL’s modern era. He brought home a Super Bowl title in 1977 and also won seven division titles in 10 years.
Why he’s high atop our mountain: “His Raiders were always good, mostly exceptional, going against some of the best pro teams ever assembled. Madden kept command of a wildly rogue bunch, often striking people as a bunch of criminals, never losing their ear while working for eccentric genius Al Davis. And they did get one championship in the deal,” Jenkins said.
“Madden is just an icon on so many fronts, but the one thing people often overlook is he could really coach. Renegades who couldn’t play anywhere else loved playing for Madden. Got the Raiders their first Super Bowl, and if not for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ super teams, he surely would have won more.” said Steward.
All-Mountain second team
TONY LA RUSSA: The former A’s manager took Oakland to three straight World Series from 1988-90. Losing to inferior teams in ’88 (Dodgers) and ’90 (Reds) was held against him. “They didn’t win multiple championships, but Tony’s A’s were iconic,” said Monte Poole, longtime Bay Area News Group columnist now with NBC Sports Bay Area. “That was the height of A’s baseball. They connected with the Bay Area. They drew nearly 3 million fans. They were a show.”
DON NELSON: Oversaw the Warriors’ resurgence by developing a fast-paced, entertaining style of basketball during the “Run TMC” days of Tim Hardaway, Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond. Nelson also retired as the game’s all-time winningest coach. “His teams were celebrated and fun, his ‘We Believe’ team was tremendous for Warriors fans, but Nellie couldn’t get past the second round of the playoffs,” Poole said.
GEORGE SEIFERT: Some late ballot-box stuffing from fans still wasn’t quite enough to lift Seifert into the first four spots. Seifert coached the 49ers to two Super Bowl titles, but has any two-time championship winning coach ever been so overlooked? The perception was that Seifert rode to glory because Walsh’s system and players were still around. “There’s an argument for him,” said Poole. “He grabbed the baton from Bill (Walsh), but George did a great job taking what Bill had built and succeeding for a number of years.”
DICK WILLIAMS: Another former A’s skipper who took Oakland to the top of MLB’s mountain. He won World Series titles in 1971 and ’72 but stepped aside while Alvin Dark managed the A’s to a third straight championship in ’73 because Williams had enough of eccentric and bombastic A’s owner Charlie Finley. “He was an amazing baseball guy who won two championships for an owner who was borderline certifiable and a clubhouse full of the cast from ‘Major League,’ ” said Purdy.
All-Mountain third team
AL ATTLES: Nearly 50 years after winning the Warriors’ first NBA title in 1975, Attles’ longevity still makes him one of the faces of the franchise. Attles did his own tweaking of the NBA system by becoming the first coach to utilize almost every player on his roster, which helped the Warriors wear down their opponents.
DUSTY BAKER: The former Giant is another of one of the most beloved managers in Bay Area history. The 2002 World Series collapse against the Angels still haunts around these parts, as do NLDS losses in 1997 and 2000. “If he weren’t cursed in October, he’d be a big part of the debate,” Geracie said.
TOM FLORES: Flores was finally recognized for his two Super Bowl titles as the Raiders coach by his entry into Pro Football’s Hall of Fame. However, only one of Flores’ Super Bowl wins came in Oakland it was a memorable one, though, as his 1980 Raiders became the NFL’s first wild card team to become champions.
BOB MELVIN: The calming influence of Melvin helped carry his A’s teams to seven postseason appearances in 11 years, including four division titles. Melvin’s 853 wins for the A’s were the second most in franchise history behind Hall of Famer Connie Mack.
Here’s the breakdown of our panelists choices:
JOE FONZI (KTVU-TV sports anchor): Walsh, Kerr, Bochy, Madden.BUD GERACIE (Bay Area News Group sports editor): Walsh, Kerr, Madden, Bochy.MARK IBANEZ (retired KTVU-TV sports anchor): Kerr, Walsh, Bochy, La Russa.BRUCE JENKINS (San Francisco Chronicle writer emeritus): Walsh, Kerr, Bochy, Madden.DAVE NEWHOUSE (retired columnist, author): Walsh, Kerr, Bochy, Madden.MONTE POOLE (NBC Sports Bay Area, columnist): Walsh, Kerr, Madden, La Russa.MARK PURDY (retired Mercury News columnist): Walsh, Kerr, Bochy, Dick Williams.HAL RAMEY: (retired KCBS radio sports anchor): Walsh, Kerr, Bochy, Madden.GLENN SCHWARZ (retired San Francisco Chronicle sports editor): Walsh, Kerr, Bochy, Madden.ART SPANDER (Bay Area columnist for nearly 50 years and counting): Walsh, Kerr, Madden, Bochy.CARL STEWARD (retired Bay Area News Group columnist): Walsh, Kerr, Bochy, Madden
ONLINE READERS POLL RESULTS
1. George Seifert, 49ers: 29.2%2. Steve Kerr, Warriors: 17.9%3. Bill Walsh, 49ers: 16.9%4. Bruce Bochy, Giants: 13.5%5. John Madden, Raiders: 12.2%6. Tony La Russa, A’s: 3.3%7. Dusty Baker, Giants: 1.6%8. Al Attles, Warriors: 1.2%9. Don Nelson, Warriors: 1.1%10. Dick Williams, A’s: 0.9%
FINAL TALLY*: Walsh: 45 points, (10 first-place votes); Kerr: 37 points, (1); Bochy: 20 points; Madden 11 points; Seifert 4 points (1), La Russa 2 points; D. Williams 1 point.
* Note: 4 points for 1st place vote, 3 points for 2nd place, 2 points for 3rd place, 1 point for 4th place.