2012-GameRelease-Divisional

Doing What’s Best
By Taylor Price, 49ers.com
Coach Feature Story
With a humble, hard-working approach to his profession, San Francisco 49ers offensive line coach Tim
Drevno thoroughly enjoyed his first season coaching in the professional ranks. Despite his team’s
outcome in the NFC Championship game, Drevno remains enthusiastic about working with the 49ers
offensive linemen along with fellow line coach Mike Solari. Drevno’s style of coaching, a perfect
complement to Solari, enabled the 49ers to become one of the best line groups in 2011. For Drevno and
his pupils to succeed even greater this time around, the position coach will once again institute his tried
and true coaching beliefs.
HONESTY IS his best policy. That, and working like crazy to get the desired results. It’s always been that
way for Drevno, the 49ers offensive line coach brought on by head coach Jim Harbaugh before the 2011
season. The coach with 20 years of experience proved to be a vital cog in the team’s success: winning 14
games and making an appearance in the NFC Championship game.
Frank Gore ran his way to the Pro Bowl behind the 49ers offensive line; left tackle Joe Staley made his
first ever Pro Bowl appearance as a result from working with Drevno, too. But really, the knowledge and
expertise of the 49ers line coaches allowed the group to improve. With two detailed coaches working with
the position group on a constant basis, San Francisco finished 8th in the NFL this year, rushing for an
average of 127.8 yards per game.
While stats might convince some coaches they’ve done a good job, Drevno’s mission last season was to
win games, while making sure to be thorough in his teachings. “I’m a very honest person,” Drevno said. “I
can be detail-oriented and will demand in a professional manner. I’m a guy that really cares for us to win,
cares about the person I’m coaching, cares about the club that we’re working for, and I’m the guy that just
loves the game of football.”
BOUNCING AROUND on his mother’s bed like the running backs he looked up to, Hall of Famers O.J.
Simpson and Marcus Allen, Drevno immediately developed a passion for football. Growing up in Southern
California where he watched Simpson and Allen’s efforts for the USC football program, it didn’t take long
for Drevno to find his true passion. “I need football in my life,” the offensive line coach admitted. “If I didn’t
have football in my life, I’d be lost.”
Fortunately, Drevno grew up as one of the bigger kids on the block. No longer would he be imitating the
best running backs. Instead, he started to imitate offensive linemen. “I was a bigger kid,” admitted
Drevno, who became an all-league player at South Torrance High School. “I felt like I could find my niche
as an offensive lineman.” Drevno went on to play at El Camino College, where he helped the team win a
national title in 1987 and earned All-Mission League honors the following year. From there, Drevno
played at Cal State Fullerton for two seasons, but soon realized his time as a player was coming to an
end. Not to worry, the selfless player envisioned himself becoming a selfless coach.
JUST A guy. More specifically, a guy that wants to win football games. That was Drevno’s approach to
the game as he began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Fullerton. It wasn’t about bossing
people around, or scolding players for their mistakes. Drevno got in the business for the right reasons. “I
wanted to give back what football had given to me,” Drevno said. “That’s why I got into coaching.”
Drevno’s coaching career took off soon after as he enjoyed stops at Montana State, coaching tight ends
from 1993-95 and then running backs from 1996-98. Drevno next moved to Las Vegas where he coached
the running backs for the UNLV program in 1998. The following year, the former lineman began coaching
the offensive line position group at San Jose State before taking the same role at the University of Idaho
from 2000-02.