Geep Chryst, who served the past four seasons as 49ers quarterbacks coach under Jim Harbaugh, is reportedly going to become the team's offensive coordinator under new coach Jim Tomsula.
Chryst, 52, is expected to take over the position Greg Roman held for the past four season, reported the NFL Network’s Albert Breer, citing two sources. The 49ers have not announced any coaching moves since Tomsula’s promotion to head coach on Jan. 14.
Chryst’s previous coordinator experience came in 1999 and 2000 with the San Diego Chargers under Mike Riley.
[MAIOCCO: Report: Logan set to join 49ers as quarterbacks coach]
Chryst's offensive unit in 1999 ranked 28th in points and 26th in total yards. Jim Harbaugh and Erik Kramer started 12 and four games at quarterback, respectively. The Chargers averaged 3.0 yards per rushing attempt in each of his two seasons as coordinator. In 2000, the Chargers finished 26th in points and 28th in total yards in quarterback Ryan Leaf’s rookie season.
Chryst was stationed on the sideline during 49ers games the past four seasons and was often seen consulting with quarterback Colin Kaepernick between offensive possessions. Steve Logan will become the 49ers’ new quarterbacks coach, he told a North Carolina TV station for which he worked.
Coincidentally, even with the overhaul in the coaching staff after the "mutual part" of Harbaugh, the top three spots on the team's coaching staff were all members of Harbaugh's staff. Tomsula was promoted to defensive line coach. Eric Mangini, the new defensive coordinator, was the 49ers' tight ends coach. And Chryst is expected to receive a promotion, too.
On Wednesday, sources confirmed to CSNBayArea.com that Philadelphia Eagles wide receivers coach Bob Bicknell spoke with Tomsula about the coordinator position but opted to remain on Chip Kelly’s staff.
Bicknell joined a list of potential candidates for the job who made themselves unavailable.
The 49ers pushed hard to lure former Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Adam Gase, the runner-up for the head-coaching position, a source told CSNBayArea.com. Gase eventually followed coach John Fox to the Chicago Bears.
[MAIOCCO: Sources: 49ers target Bicknell opts to remain with Eagles]
The 49ers were blocked from speaking with Indianapolis Colts assistant Rob Chudzinski while he remained under contract. On Tuesday, the day Chudzinski was scheduled to become a coaching free agent, the Colts signed him to a new contract as associate head coach.
Former Cleveland Browns offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan declined an interview request, NBC4 in Washington reported two weeks ago.
Washington coach Mike Shanahan and Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin were also reported as candidates for the job.
Chryst was a three-year starter at linebacker for Princeton, where he also played two seasons of baseball. He earned a bachelor's degree in history from Princeton, as well as a master's in educational development from Wisconsin.
His son, Keller, a highly recruited quarterback, was a redshirt at Stanford as a freshman.