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http://www.49erswebzone.com/content/news/view.php?id=12917

(01-08) 14:36 PST -- Mike Nolan's search for a new offensive coordinator was a short one as the 49ers' coach hired Mike Martz this afternoon to resurrect what was the worst offense in the NFL in 2007.

Martz, 56, replaces Jim Hostler, whose stint as offensive coordinator was one and done after the 49ers scored the fewest points and generated the fewest yards in the league.

The 49ers scheduled a 5 p.m. conference call with the two Mikes to discuss the hire.

"Our players are accustomed to and deserve strong leadership and competency," Nolan said in a statement. "The addition of Mike Martz as offensive coordinator gives our players both. Mike is an accomplished and highly successful offensive coach who has had great success with individuals and entire offenses. I believe the addition of Mike will affect our offense and entire team in a positive way."

Nolan interviewed former Dallas Cowboys and Georgia Tech coach Chan Gailey on Saturday and met with Martz on Sunday. Hiring Martz means Nolan never got to two other offensive coordinator candidates on his list, Brian Billick and Cam Cameron, both fired as head coaches this season, Billick in Baltimore and Cameron in Miami.

One of Martz's jobs as offensive coordinator in 2008 will be to rebuild the career, and confidence, of quarterback Alex Smith, whose right shoulder and reputation took a beating this season. Smith was limited to seven games this season and completed only 48.7 percent of his passes.

According to Nolan, Smith will have to compete with Shaun Hill, provided he is re-signed, for the starting job next season.

Martz, known as an offensive mastermind with a sizable ego, spent the last two seasons in Detroit as offensive coordinator on Rod Marinelli's staff. With a preference for moving the ball through the air, the Lions were ranked ninth in passing in the NFL this season.

Overall, the Lions averaged 322.8 yards per game in 2007, substantially better than San Francisco's league-worst 237.3. Detroit was smack-dab in the middle of the league in scoring at 16th.

Before Detroit, Martz had been head coach of the St. Louis Rams from 2000-05 and was offensive coordinator on their Super Bowl-winning team in 1999. Under Martz, the Rams' offense was known as the "The Greatest Show on Turf" with such players as quarterback Kurt Warner, running back Marshall Faulk and wide receivers Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt.

From 1999-2001, the Rams became the first team in NFL history to score more than 500 points in three consecutive seasons.

Martz missed the last 11 games of the 2005 season with a heart ailment.