SAN FRANCISCO -- Although Jed York received a new title when he became the San Francisco 49ers' team president Sunday, he doesn't sound like he'll be looking for a new head coach next week.
York, the 27-year-old son of 49ers owner John York, said interim coach Mike Singletary has done an "awesome" job in his eight games in charge of the franchise. San Francisco (6-9) isn't allowed to give the job permanently to Singletary until after the season, but Jed York left little doubt of his feelings.
"I'm very fired up about Mike," York said on the Candlestick Park field before the 49ers' season finale against the Washington Redskins. "When we see what Mike is doing, he's done a good job getting everybody together. I think the team is starting to play with the intensity and passion that we expect."
San Francisco is 4-4 since Singletary replaced Mike Nolan on Oct. 20, playing with renewed vigor and competitiveness late in its sixth consecutive losing season. The 49ers had won four of their last six heading into their game with the Redskins, and Singletary is widely expected to land the permanent job early next week, though York said there's no timetable to make a hire.
General manager Scot McCloughan is in charge of hiring the coach, but York has cemented his place in charge of the franchise taken over by his family several years ago from York's uncle, Eddie DeBartolo.
York also had praise for McCloughan, who was promoted past Nolan last January.
"He's our GM," York said. "He's doing a great job. We're really pleased."
Jed York's parents, John and Denise DeBartolo York, formally became co-chairmen of the 49ers on Sunday, a move that gives the day-to-day responsibilities of running the team to their eager son.
John York has been roundly criticized for several years in the Bay Area for the 49ers' misfortunes, but Jed York has embraced the challenges of rebuilding the five-time Super Bowl champions. McCloughan, chief operating officer Andy Dolich and chief financial officer Larry MacNeil will report to Jed York in his new job.
"It's just more of a formalization," said Jed York, who has spent the past three years working in various parts of the 49ers' organization. "It just formalizes my role."
Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press
