SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The 49ers promoted quarterbacks coach Jim Hostler to offensive coordinator Wednesday, the fifth coach to hold that job in five seasons in San Francisco.
Coach Mike Nolan chose Hostler to replace Norv Turner, who became the San Diego Chargers' head coach nearly two weeks ago, after interviewing each of the five offensive assistants Turner left behind.
"Hostler has his roots in the offensive system that we ran last year," Nolan said in a statement Wednesday. "I stated that it was my intent on to keep the system intact. Jim was instrumental in the implementation of our offense last season. He is a disciplined teacher, which is extremely important to any coach that is on our staff."
Hostler spent five seasons as an assistant coach with three NFL teams before joining the 49ers in 2005 to tutor Alex Smith. Hostler has never been a coordinator -- and neither has Greg Manusky, hired as San Francisco's new defensive coordinator several weeks ago after Billy Davis was fired.
Turner spent just one season with the 49ers, but led a turnaround in one of the NFL's worst offenses. He replaced Mike McCarthy, who left San Francisco after one season to become the Green Bay Packers' head coach.
