Walsh, Bill (1931–2007)

US American football coach. The most successful professional coach of the 1980s, he guided the San Francisco 49ers to victories in Super Bowls XVI, XIX, and XXIII. After coaching the 49ers (1979–89) he spent two years as a sports broadcaster before returning to Stanford University, where he had two successful coaching seasons during the 1970s, as head coach 1992–94.

Walsh was born in Los Angeles, California, where he played football in high school and college. He was an assistant coach for the Oakland Raiders 1966–68, the Cincinnati Bengals 1968–76, and the San Diego Chargers 1976–77. As head coach at Stanford University 1977–78, he took his team to the Sun Bowl. He was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1993.