EX-SEMO COACH TAKES OVER LIONS

PONTIAC, Mich. -- Marty Mornhinweg got the head coaching job he wanted. It just wasn't the one many people expected.

The Detroit Lions hired the San Francisco offensive coordinator on Wednesday to replace Gary Moeller. Mornhinweg is a former assistant coach at Southeast Missouri State University who spent two seasons with the Indians, serving as their quarterbacks coach in 1989 and their offensive coordinator in 1990.

Mornhinweg, rumored to be headed to the Cleveland Browns for months, reached an agreement with Detroit following a final interview Tuesday, Lions president Matt Millen confirmed.

"It's not like I just met Marty two days ago," Millen said Wednesday night. "I've known Marty for a while."

The 38-year-old Mornhinweg was one of five coaches considered for the job since Matt Millen became president of the Lions this month.

Moeller, who took over in midseason for Bobby Ross, was fired to make way for Mornhinweg. Moeller's assistants also were fired but could be considered for rehiring.

"I don't like to see people get hurt, but it's a business," Millen said.

The Lions scheduled two news conferences today, one in Pontiac and another in Tampa, Fla., site of the Super Bowl.

Mornhinweg agreed to a five-year deal, said a football source speaking on condition of anonymity. ESPN.com said the deal was worth $5 million.

Millen had planned to interview Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis after the Super Bowl. Millen already had interviewed Moeller. Others considered were Herman Edwards, who was hired last week to coach the New York Jets, and Denver Broncos offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak, who chose not to be a candidate for the job.

Mornhinweg is the latest Mike Holmgren protege to get a head coaching job.

San Francisco's Steve Mariucci, Oakland's Jon Gruden and Philadelphia's Andy Reid and Mornhinweg were offensive assistant coaches under Holmgren when he was coaching in Green Bay.

"Yes, he's young, but he's as prepared as an offensive coordinator can be," Mariucci said Friday.

Mornhinweg has spent the last four seasons as the 49ers' offensive coordinator after two years as an offensive assistant and quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers.

Moeller was given a 2 1/2-year contract when he took the Detroit coaching job last season. But his status became shaky when Millen was hired by owner William Clay Ford to take control of all football operations.

Mornhinweg has never been a head coach at any level, nor does he have any coaching experience on defense. He was Brett Favre's position coach during Green Bay's 1996 Super Bowl season.

This season, despite the retirement of Steve Young, Mornhinweg's offensive scheme helped the 49ers set several team passing records and send quarterback Jeff Garcia, receiver Terrell Owens and running back Charlie Garner to their first Pro Bowls.

The Lions will count on Mornhinweg to improve the play of quarterback Charlie Batch, who had 13 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season.

Mornhinweg had a record-setting career at Montana as a quarterback. The Edmond, Okla., native played briefly in the Arena Football League before a career-ending knee injury. He then spent 10 seasons as an assistant college coach before joining Green Bay.

"He has tremendous pedigree offensively going all the way back to his high school days when his coach was Mike Holmgren," Lions vice president Bill Keenist has said. "He's been around successful offensive philosophies throughout his career."