Steve Mariucci
{{short description|American football coach and analyst}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Steve Mariucci
| image = Steve Mariucci 2011 (cropped).jpg
| image_size =
| alt = Candid photograph of Mariucci seated behind a desk on a TV set wearing a dark pin-striped suit, blue striped tie and a headset
| caption = Mariucci at the 2011 NFL Draft
| position = Quarterback
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1955|11|4|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Iron Mountain, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| high_school = Iron Mountain
| college = Northern Michigan
| pastteams =
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats ({{CFL Year|1978}})*
| pastcoaching =
- Northern Michigan (1978–1979)
Running backs coach - Cal State Fullerton (1980–1982)
Quarterbacks coach - Louisville (1983–1984)
Wide receivers coach - Orlando Renegades ({{USFL Year|1985}})
Wide receivers coach - USC (1986)
Wide receivers coach & special teams coach - California (1987–1989)
Wide receivers coach & special teams coach - California (1990–1991)
Offensive coordinator - Green Bay Packers ({{NFL Year|1992}}–{{NFL Year|1995}})
Quarterbacks coach - California (1996)
Head coach - San Francisco 49ers ({{NFL Year|1997}}–{{NFL Year|2002}})
Head coach - Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2003}}–{{NFL Year|2005}})
Head coach
| highlights =
| coachregrecord = NFL: {{Winning percentage|72|67|record=y}}
NCAA: {{Winning percentage|6|6|record=y}}
| coachplayoffrecord = NFL: {{Winning percentage|3|4|record=y}}
Bowl games: {{Winning percentage|0|1|record=y}}
| coachrecord = NFL: {{Winning percentage|75|71|record=y}}
NCAA: {{Winning percentage|6|7|record=y}}
| pfrcoach = MariSt0
}}
Stephen Ray Mariucci (born November 4, 1955), nicknamed "Mooch", is an American sportscaster and former football coach who was the head coach of two National Football League (NFL) teams, the San Francisco 49ers (1997–2002) and the Detroit Lions (2003–2005), and for a year at the University of California, Berkeley.
Early life
Mariucci was born and raised in Iron Mountain, Michigan, in the Upper Peninsula, where he met best friend and current Michigan State University basketball head coach Tom Izzo. Both attended Iron Mountain High where they were teammates on the football, basketball, and track teams.
At Northern Michigan University (NMU) in Marquette, where they were roommates, Mariucci was a three-time All-America (Division II) quarterback. As a sophomore in 1975, he led the Wildcats to three postseason wins and the national championship. Mariucci signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats of the Canadian Football League in {{nowrap|May 1978,{{Cite news |date=May 25, 1978 |title=Mariucci to Canada |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/14694258/manitowoc_heraldtimes/ |access-date=October 26, 2017 |work=Manitowoc Herald-Times|via=Newspapers.com |pages=18}}}} but was released a month later {{nowrap|on June 9.{{cite news | title=Ticats cut QB hopeful in bringing roster to 54 | work=The Globe and Mail | date=June 10, 1978 }}}}
Early career
He began his coaching career at his alma mater (1978–79), and moved to Cal State Fullerton {{nowrap|(1980–82)}} and Louisville {{nowrap|(1983–84).}} Mariucci's first pro position was as a receivers coach for the USFL's Orlando Renegades in 1985. Later that fall, he had a brief stint in the NFL with the Los Angeles Rams as quality control coach.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/coaches/MariSt0.htm |title=Steve Mariucci Record, Statistics, and Category Ranks |publisher=Pro-Football-Reference.com |date=November 4, 1955 |access-date=August 16, 2012}}
Mariucci returned to college football and joined the USC staff in 1986 and coached wide receiver Ken Henry to a season where he had 807 yards with 7 TDs; WR Randy Tanner also had 408 yards {{nowrap|with 3 TDs.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/southern-california/1986.html |title=1986 Southern California Trojans Stats | College Football at |publisher=Sports-reference.com |access-date=February 15, 2014}}}}
He then moved to the coaching staff at the University of California, Berkeley (Cal) in 1987. that first season, WR Brian Bedford had 515 yards with 4 TDs and WR Mike Ford had 479 yards {{nowrap|with 3 TDs.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/california/1987.html |title=1987 California Golden Bears Stats | College Football at |publisher=Sports-reference.com |access-date=February 15, 2014}}}} In 1989, WR Brian Treggs had 746 yards {{nowrap|with 4 TDs.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/california/1989.html |title=1989 California Golden Bears Stats | College Football at |publisher=Sports-reference.com |access-date=February 15, 2014}}}}
In 1990 and 1991, he was the Golden Bears' offensive coordinator. Quarterback Mike Pawlawski threw for 2,069 yards with 17 TDs and RBs Anthony Wallace and Russell White combined to run for 2,002 yards with 16 TDs.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/california/1990.html |title=1990 California Golden Bears Stats | College Football at |publisher=Sports-reference.com |access-date=February 15, 2014}} In 1991, Pawlawski threw for 2,517 yards with 21 TDs and White ran for 1,177 yards with 14 TDs; WR Sean Dawkins had 723 yards {{nowrap|with 11 TDs.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/california/1991.html |title=1991 California Golden Bears Stats | College Football at |publisher=Sports-reference.com |access-date=February 15, 2014}}}}
Mariucci then moved to the NFL, and became the quarterback coach for the Green Bay Packers in 1992 under new head coach {{nowrap|Mike Holmgren.}} After four years with the Packers, he returned to Cal as head coach in 1996 and went {{nowrap|6–6,}} ending with an Aloha Bowl loss {{nowrap|to Navy.}}
Coaching career in professional football
{{More citations needed section|date=February 2024}}
Following his season with the Golden Bears, Mariucci was considered a leading candidate for several NFL head coaching positions, and was hired by the San Francisco 49ers to succeed George Seifert.
In his first season in 1997, the 49ers went {{nowrap|13–3}} during the regular season, earning home-field advantage in the playoffs in the National Football Conference (NFC).{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1997.htm|title=1997 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} After defeating the Minnesota Vikings in the divisional round,{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801030sfo.htm|title=Divisional Round - Minnesota Vikings at San Francisco 49ers - January 3rd, 1998|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} San Francisco hosted the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship Game, but lost 23–10 in a muddy, rainy contest at Candlestick Park.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199801110sfo.htm|title=NFC Championship - Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers - January 11th, 1998|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} The defeat was the 49ers' fourth NFC title loss of the 1990s, following losses to the New York Giants in 1990 and the Dallas Cowboys in 1992 and 1993, and it was their third playoff loss to the Packers in as many seasons. In 1998,{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1998.htm|title=1998 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} the 49ers posted a 12–4 record and returned to the playoffs as a wild-card team, finally beating the Green Bay Packers in the Wild Card game,{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901030sfo.htm|title=Wild Card - Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers - January 3rd, 1999|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} but lost 20–18 in the divisional round to the eventual NFC champion Atlanta Falcons.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/199901090atl.htm|title=Divisional Round - San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons - January 9th, 1999|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} The Wild Card Game saw Terrell Owens drop several passes but redeem himself with The Catch II, scoring the winning touchdown. Two highly disappointing seasons followed, with the team finishing {{nowrap| 4-12}} and {{nowrap| 6-10}} in 1999 and 2000 respectively.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/1999.htm|title=1999 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/2000.htm|title=2000 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} The 49ers bounced back in 2001,{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/2001.htm|title=2001 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} posting {{nowrap|a 12-4}} record and returning to the playoffs, only to be eliminated by the Green Bay Packers.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200201130gnb.htm|title=Wild Card - San Francisco 49ers at Green Bay Packers - January 13th, 2002|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}}
Mariucci's final season in San Francisco was 2002.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/sfo/2002.htm|title=2002 San Francisco 49ers Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} The 49ers won the NFC West with a {{nowrap|10–6}} record and beat the New York Giants in a wild-card game, posting the third-biggest comeback playoff victory in NFL history (second biggest at the time).{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200301050sfo.htm|title=Wild Card - New York Giants at San Francisco 49ers - January 5th, 2003|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} However, they were crushed {{nowrap|31–6}} by the eventual Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the divisional round.{{cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/200301120tam.htm|title=Divisional Round - San Francisco 49ers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers - January 12th, 2003|website=Pro Football Reference|access-date=November 13, 2024}} On January 15, 2003, the 49ers fired Mariucci, reportedly after Mariucci lost a power struggle with general manager Terry Donahue.{{cite magazine|url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2003/01/15/mariucci_released/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030118022451/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/news/2003/01/15/mariucci_released/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 18, 2003 |title=CNNSI.com – Pro Football – 49ers release Mariucci from contract – Thursday January 16, 2003 02:42 PM |magazine=Sports Illustrated|access-date=August 16, 2012}} As San Francisco's coach, he compiled a 60–43 (.583) record, while his teams earned playoff berths four times. His firing caused an uproar among 49ers fans. The 49ers struggled heavily following Mariucci's departure, finishing without a winning season for the subsequent eight seasons.
Mariucci was named the Detroit Lions' 22nd head coach on February 4, 2003,{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/columns/pasquarelli_len/1503579.html#:~:text=Steve%20Mariucci%20is%20officially%20headed,at%20a%20Wednesday%20press%20conference.|title=Lions, Mariucci complete terms on five-year deal|website=ESPN.com|last=Pasquarelli|first=Len|date=February 4, 2003|access-date=November 12, 2024}} and was fired on November 28, 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/news/story?id=2239336|title=Mariucci out as Lions' coach|website=ESPN.com|date=November 28, 2005|access-date=November 12, 2024}} In his abbreviated three seasons in Detroit, he compiled a disappointing {{nowrap|{{winning percentage|15|28|record=y}}}} record. Mariucci's troubles in Detroit were partially attributed by many fans and experts to poor personnel evaluations by then Lions' general manager Matt Millen, who had signed Mariucci to a five-year $25 million guaranteed contract, the NFL's highest coaching contract at the time. During his time in Detroit, the Lions finished no higher than third in their division and never contended for a playoff berth. The decision to fire Mariucci came after a {{nowrap|27–7}} blowout loss on national television on Thanksgiving Day to the Atlanta Falcons in 2005.
During the Brett Favre–Green Bay Packers dispute throughout the 2008 off-season, Favre criticized the Packers for not interviewing Mariucci for their head coaching job in 2006. Mariucci, who previously worked with Favre, was figured to be a great candidate for the West Coast Offense style played in Green Bay.
Mariucci is one of thirteen head coaches since the AFL–NFL merger in 1970 to lead his team to a division title in his first season. Mariucci established an NFL mark for consecutive wins by a rookie head coach with an 11-game winning streak, which has since been trumped by Jim Caldwell's {{nowrap|14–0}} start with the Indianapolis Colts during the 2009 season.
Throughout his career, Mariucci coached a high number of players (9) inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Hall of Fame inductees coached by Mariucci as either their position or head coach include: Tony Gonzalez, Brett Favre, Steve Young, Jerry Rice, Kevin Greene, Rod Woodson, Chris Doleman, Charles Haley, and Terrell Owens.
Head coaching record
=College=
{{CFB Yearly Record Start | type = coach | team = | conf = | bowl = | poll = no }}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subhead
| name = California Golden Bears
| conf = Pacific-10 Conference
| startyear = 1996
| endyear = single
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Entry
| year = 1996
| name = California
| overall = 6–6
| conference = 3–5
| confstanding = 5th
| bowlname = Aloha
| bowloutcome = L
| bcsbowl =
| ranking = no
| ranking2 = no
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record Subtotal
| name = California
| overall = 6–6
| confrecord = 3–5
}}
{{CFB Yearly Record End
| overall = 6–6
| bowls = no
| poll = no
| polltype =
| legend = no
}}
=NFL=
| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align:center;" | ||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Team | rowspan="2"|Year | colspan="5"|Regular season | colspan="4"|Postseason | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Won | Lost | Ties | Win % | Finish | Won | Lost | Win % | Result |
| style="background:#fdd;"
||13||3||0||.813||1st in NFC West|| 1 || 1 || .500 || Lost to Green Bay Packers in NFC Championship Game | ||||||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
||12||4||0||.750||2nd in NFC West|| 1 || 1 || .500 || Lost to Atlanta Falcons in NFC Divisional Game | ||||||||
| SF||1999
||4||12||0||.250||4th in NFC West|| – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| SF||2000
||6||10||0||.375||4th in NFC West|| – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
||12||4||0||.750||2nd in NFC West|| 0 || 1 || .000 || Lost to Green Bay Packers in NFC Wild Card Game | ||||||||
| style="background:#fdd;"
||10||6||0||.625||1st in NFC West|| 1 || 1 || .500 || Lost to Tampa Bay Buccaneers in NFC Divisional Game | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|SF Total||57||39||0||.594||||3||4||.429|| | ||||||||
| DET||2003
||5||11||0||.313||4th in NFC North|| – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| DET||2004
||6||10||0||.375||3rd in NFC North|| – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| DET||2005
||4||7||0||.364||(Fired)|| – || – || – || – | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|DET Total||15||28||0||.349|| || – || – || – || | ||||||||
| colspan="2"|Total||72||67||0||.518|||| 3 || 4 || .429 || |
After coaching
Since being fired by the Detroit Lions, Mariucci has not returned to coaching. He has since been hired by NFL Network to work on their show NFL GameDay and contribute as an analyst on NFL Network's four-hour pregame show "NFL GameDay Morning," as well as provide follow-up reports from the late afternoon and Sunday night matchups on "NFL GameDay Highlights."
Mariucci now resides in Monte Sereno, California. He has four children: Stephen, Tyler, Adam, and Brielle. His eldest son Tyler is an assistant athletic director at San Diego State University. Adam works in Real Estate in New York City and his son Stephen is country music artist, Stephen Ray.{{cite web |title=Stephen Ray |url=http://www.stephenraymusic.com/ |website=stephenraymusic.com |access-date=July 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230426052423/https://www.stephenraymusic.com/ |archive-date=April 26, 2023 |language=en |url-status=live}}
In 2011, Mariucci founded the Mariucci Family Foundation. It is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing opportunities and support for underserved youth and families.
Shortly after Pete Carroll left University of Southern California (USC), Mariucci was reportedly seen on campus,[http://bustersports.com/blog/buster-blog/2010/01/12/steve-mariucci-reportedly-seen-on-usc-campus-this-week/] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100115082200/http://bustersports.com/blog/buster-blog/2010/01/12/steve-mariucci-reportedly-seen-on-usc-campus-this-week/ |date=January 15, 2010 }} and ESPN's Adam Schefter reported shortly thereafter that Mariucci was a candidate for the Trojans head coach position and that the university had "made contact"{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/Adam_Schefter/status/7677999157 |title=Twitter / AdamSchefter: USC and former 49ers/Lions |publisher=Twitter.com |access-date=August 16, 2012}} with the announcer.
Following the dismissal of Arkansas head coach Bobby Petrino in April 2012, Mariucci was recommended as a replacement by Carroll.{{cite web|last=Brinson |first=Will |url=http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/18660657/report-arkansas-contacted-pete-carroll-steve-mariucci-about-opening |title=Report: Arkansas contacted Pete Carroll about opening, not interested |publisher=CBSSports.com |date=April 18, 2012 |access-date=August 16, 2012}}
Mariucci expressed interest in the head coaching job of the San Diego Chargers in late 2012 with speculation of Norv Turner's departure from San Diego.Costas, Bob. "Football Night in America." Football Night in America. NBC. December 23, 2012. Television.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{California Golden Bears football coach navbox}}
{{San Francisco 49ers coach navbox}}
{{Detroit Lions coach navbox}}
{{NFL Total Access}}
{{Thursday Night Football}}
{{1975 Northern Michigan Wildcats football navbox}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mariucci, Steve}}
Category:American football quarterbacks
Category:American people of Italian descent
Category:Cal State Fullerton Titans football coaches
Category:California Golden Bears football coaches
Category:Canadian football quarterbacks
Category:Detroit Lions head coaches
Category:Green Bay Packers coaches
Category:Hamilton Tiger-Cats coaches
Category:Los Angeles Rams coaches
Category:Louisville Cardinals football coaches
Category:Northern Michigan Wildcats football coaches
Category:Northern Michigan Wildcats football players
Category:People from Iron Mountain, Michigan
Category:San Francisco 49ers head coaches
Category:Sportspeople from Michigan
Category:Orlando Renegades coaches
Category:USC Trojans football coaches