Texans defensive coordinator search: Part V

January 4, 4:15 AMHouston Texans ExaminerAlan Burge

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Mike Nolan                      (49ers photo)

Next up, Mike Nolan. 

Maybe it's not fair but when I think of Mike Nolan, I think of two things:  'the suit,' and the way he exited the 49ers head coaching job earlier this season.

Nolan has eleven years of NFL experience at defensive coordinator which is the most of all the names mentioned in the Chronicle article that started all this.

However in Nolan's case, more than a decade of experience didn't necessarily translate to success.

Over his eleven year tenure as a coordinator, Nolan's defensive units finished in the Top10 six times in fewest points allowed, and four times in fewest yards allowed.  Not bad.

But during those years, Nolan's teams made only three playoff appearances (Giants in '93, Redskins in '99, and Ravens in '03) and those teams never advanced beyond the divisional round of the playoffs. 

Here's a look at Nolan's defensive unit's NFL ranks in points and yards allowed while he was a coordinator:

Nolan's rise as a defensive coach began with the Broncos (surprise) in 1987 where he coached linebackers under Dan Reeves until 1992. 

If you were wondering if he and Gary Kubiak ever worked together, the answer is yes ... and no. 

Kubiak was there with Nolan but Kubiak was still a player ('87 - '91) during their five year overlap  Kubiak's last year as a player was 1991 and he left in '92 to coach at his alma mater, Texas A&M.

Nolan left Denver with Dan Reeves after the '92 season and went to New York where he had his best year statistically as a coordinator in his first year as a coordinator.

Those wondering about Nolan's philosophy should read this obviously biased but seemingly well constructed criticism of his body of work as a defensive coach.

The circumstances in which Nolan was fired by the 49ers a few months ago suggested chaos in his locker room which isn't the qualities you look for in leaders of men.  

Nolan failed miserably as a head coach, in an even worse way than Gregg Williams.  Mike Singletary had to take drastic and YouTube caliber measures to straighten out a group of players that had been lost by Nolan, and for some reason I can't get that taste out of my mouth.

I'd be very hesitant to give Mike Nolan a shot at the Texans defensive coordinator job.  I don't think it's a good fit, and all things considered I don't think the Texans would get the immediate results they are expecting.

Yes, he has the experience you like to see but definitely not the record of success.

For more info:  You may also want to read these related articles:

•  "Texans defensive coordinator search: Part I,"                
•  "...Part II."                                                                         
• "...Part III."                                                                               
• "...Part IV,"                                                              
• "Could Larry Coyer be a piece in the Texans defensive coordinator puzzle?"