San Francisco 49ers

2002 record: 10-6, defeated Giants 39-38 in wildcard playoffs, lost to Bucs 31-6 in divisional playoffs Departing Head Coach: Steve Mariucci, 60-43 (1997-2002) New Head Coach: Dennis Erickson Previous NFL head coaching experience: Went 31-33 with Seattle Seahawks from 1995-98 Background: Played quarterback at Montana State, then coached in college from 1971-1994. Won two national championships (1989, 1991) with the Miami Hurricanes, where he won 63 of 72 games. Coached Oregon State 1999-2002, His 144 wins ranked him ninth among active college coaches before he accepted 49ers' position.

Unlike his predecessor, Dennis Erickson is not concerned with appearances. He does not ache to be perceived as the man in charge.

"I'm not a yeller, a screamer," Erickson said during the dog days of training camp. "I let my coaches coach. I'm comfortable. I've been doing this for 37 years. Of course you are always learning things. But you should have a comfort level after 37 years."

Do not make the mistake, however, that Erickson, 56, has mellowed.

His four years with the Seahawks, following a successful stint at the University of Miami, taught him -- in retrospect -- to be a little harder on his players.

"I walked a little gingerly there," he told Ira Miller of the San Francisco Chronicle. "Maybe I didn't coach like I coach now, because I'm enthusiastic and I like to correct guys. The first couple of years there, I was a little gingerly because you're in, quote, 'the NFL.' So (I) was a little passive.

"I assumed too much when I was at Seattle. I assumed, 'Hey, these guys are professional players, that's how it is.' I assumed that, if you're in the NFL, you knew how to do everything -- which isn't true.

"You never assume. You teach. You've got to coach hard every day. That's what I learned."

The 49ers are in a unique position. They made the playoffs, but they have a new head coach because the previous one was at constant odds with the front office. The expectation is that a no-nonsense veteran like Erickson will get them back in the Super Bowl.

Strategically, Erickson will be more aggressive than Mariucci. There will be more passing down the field -- which will no doubt please Terrell Owens, who wasn't a big Mariucci fan -- and take more risks across the board.

Erickson has a veteran team that already knows how to win. And Erickson's track record, aside from his Seattle stint, suggests the same. If they continue to learn together, the playoffs are again a distinct possibility. The 49ers' recent history with a new head coaches is impressive, if not daunting.

In 1989, George Seifert delivered a Super Bowl championship in his debut season and in 1997, Mariucci took the 49ers all the way to the NFC championship game.

Greg Garber is a senior writer at ESPN.com.