Seifert Says He’s Had Enough Despite Top Record, 49ers Coach Quits, Apparently Paving Way For Mariucci

Carousel keeps turning: Promising to develop quarterback Dave Brown, Jim Fassel takes over as Giants coach/C2 SAN FRANCISCO In eight years as the San Francisco 49ers coach, George Seifert won two Super Bowls and built the best winning percentage in NFL history. On Wednesday, he decided he wanted to do something else.

Fresh from a fishing trip in Mexico, he made a stunning announcement.

“This is a sad day for the fish and wildlife population,” Seifert said. “I’m here to announce my resignation as the football coach of the San Francisco 49ers.”

He’ll apparently be succeeded by Steve Mariucci, who spent one year as the coach at University of California.

“My wife first told me when I got this job, ‘Don’t screw it up.’ I don’t think I did,” said Seifert, who was 108-35 after succeeding Bill Walsh following the 1989 season.

“I’m proud of the things we accomplished during my watch.”

Carmen Policy, the 49ers president, said the team had not yet hired Seifert’s replacement - but that only one person was being considered and an announcement could come as early as today.

“We are presently negotiating with that one individual. No offer has been made to anybody. Those negotiations are going to continue tomorrow,” Policy said. “I don’t think it’s going to be a terribly complex process. I think it’s going to be very simplistic.”

Policy said he and 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo were surprised by the decision by Seifert, whom they had expected to be the team’s coach in 1997. Seifert had one year left on his contract.

Coaching changes have been rampant around the NFL. Seifert becomes the 10th to leave since the start of this season, meaning one-third of the teams have made changes.

Seifert, 57 next week, won Super Bowls in 1989 and 1994. With a record of 108-35, Seifert is the franchise’s winningest coach and has a winning percentage of .755. He reached 100 victories faster than any NFL coach.

“It’s time for some new blood. I’m not saying my blood is stagnant. But I’m saying let’s just pass this on to someone else,” Seifert said. “There’s a natural process to this thing. You don’t stay a head coach for infinity.”

Mariucci was schooled in the 49ers system while working for Green Bay coach Mike Holmgren, a former offensive coordinator for San Francisco. He was an assistant for four years with the Packers, getting much of the credit for turning Brett Favre into a two-time NFL MVP.

Mariucci, 41, has been coaching for 18 years. His Cal team began the 1996 season with a 5-0 record, but lost six of its last seven games - including a defeat by Navy in the Aloha Bowl.

Certainly, Seifert’s departure signals wide-ranging changes for the 49ers, whose season ended in a 35-14 playoff loss at Green Bay.

Defensive coordinator Pete Carroll, a candidate for the St. Louis Rams job, was passed over and the move appears to seal the fate of offensive coordinator Marc Trestman, whose departure has been rumored after players grumbled about his play calls.