Bill Walsh (1931-2007)

Legendary college and NFL coach Bill Walsh has died of leukemia. He was 75 years old.

Known as the creator of the West Coast offense, his teachings have influenced and continue to influence teams throughout the NFL. The list of former players and assistants who have gone on to Super Bowl success include George Seifert, Jon Gruden, Andy Reid, Tony Dungy, and the Ravens’ Brian Billick.

“We should call what many teams currently run exactly what it is — the `Walshian Offense,”’ Baltimore Ravens coach Brian Billick, who worked under Walsh with the 49ers in 1979-80, said in a statement today. “I could never repay him for how he helped me.”

Perhaps his greatest impact on the professional ranks of the NFL was his creation of the Minority Coaching Fellowship program in 1987. Former Ravens and Redskins defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis was among the coaches who went through the program, which was later incoporated as a league-wide initiative.