Extension offer gave Charlotte 49ers football coach Will Healy ‘sense of peace’
Charlotte 49ers football coach Will Healy said he felt “a sense of peace” after he was offered a contract extension last season by athletics director Mike Hill. The offer came as the 49ers and their first-year coach were struggling to come out of a four-game losing streak and had a record of 2-5.
“The commitment I’ve felt up from up top is unbelievable,” Healy said during a Thursday news conference. “Especially as a young coach growing into this profession. Coaches get fired for being in the position I was in. For him to come in and offer an extension was unbelievable. It gave me a sense of peace.”
The 49ers went on to win their final five regular-season games and play in the Bahamas Bowl, the first winning season and postseason appearance in program history. Earlier this week, Hill confirmed to the Observer that Healy had agreed to a two-year extension of his contract through Jan. 31, 2026 and receive a raise from $700,000 per year to $755,000.
“I don’t think anybody at that point in time would have guaranteed winning five in a row,” Healy said. “That was icing on the cake that Mike was going to do it.”
Other highlights from Healy’s news conference, which was held to set up the start of spring practice next Tuesday:
▪ He introduced the three new members of his coaching staff: linebackers coach Adam Braithwaite, special teams coordinator Charles Bankins and offensive line coach Lee Grimes. Mark Carney was also promoted to offensive coordinator, and will continue to be quarterbacks coach.
▪ Healy said having senior defensive end Tyriq Harris and senior safety Ben DeLuca back will be a huge boost — the equivalent of adding two high-quality, experienced recruits. Harris missed last season with a back injury; DeLuca hurt his shoulder against Appalachian State and missed the final 11 games of the season.
“In addition to our (recruiting) signing class, they’re as good as anybody you’re going to sign,” Healy said. “And from a cultural and leadership perspective, as well.”
Healy said Harris and DeLuca will be held out of most contact drills during spring practice.
▪ Healy said having three players — running back Benny LeMay, offensive tackle Cam Clark and defensive end Alex Highsmith — in this month’s NFL Combine is great public relations for the program. Among Group of Five programs, only Boise State (four) had more players invited to Indianapolis.
“That’s a big deal,” Healy said. “They’re great representatives of our program, they’ve worked really hard and are really talented. It’s another opp for our name to be brought up on the big stage and our guys compete against the best of the best and to further elevate their draft stock that gives them an opp to have a good NFL career.”
The 49ers have had two players drafted before — defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi (Cleveland) and offensive guard Nate Davis (Tennessee) are both starting in the pros.
“It shows that aspiration of playing in the NFL is not just a pipe dream,” Healy said. “That’s been proved by Larry and Nate and now with these three guys who have legitimate opportunities at the combine to help themselves.”
▪ The 49ers haven’t finished recruiting, although 25 players have already signed as part of the 2020 class. Healy said the defensive and offensive lines can still be added to. Charlotte has three starters that need to be replaced on the offensive line, as well as Highsmith and tackle Tommy Doctor on the defensive line.
▪ Healy confirmed that receiver Micaleous Elder has left the program. Elder was the team’s fourth-leading receiver last season, with 21 receptions for 266 yards and a touchdown.