To the surprise of no one, the team hired Eddie Erdelatz to be their first head coach. Erdelatz had plenty of local ties having been born and raised in the Bay Area. He attended college at St Mary's, where he starred at end on the team before a couple of freak knee injuries curtailed his career. He had been a defensive assistant with the 49ers under Buck Shaw in the old All-America Conference and was noted for his pioneering use of line stunts. His chief claim to fame came when he became the head coach at Navy in 1950. For the next nine season, he led the Middies from being a sad sack also-ran to becoming a national collegiate power, earning wins in the Sugar and Cotton Bowls. A falling-out with Academy brass led him to resign after the 1958 season. He had been a top candidate for the Cal job earlier in the year, but was passed over for Marv Levy, freeing him up to go pro.
Alameda Times-Star
“Eddie Erdelatz Named Oakland Pro Football Coach,” 7
Oakland Tribune
“Ed Erdelatz Head Coach of Oakland Pros,” 1
“Pros Name Erdelatz Coach,” Scotty Stirling, 37
“Erdelatz One of Top US Coaches,” Ed Schoenfeld, 37
San Francisco Chronicle
“Soda Picked as General Manager,” Art Rosenbaum, 33
San Francisco Examiner
“Soda Gets Bay Grid Position,” 43
San Mateo Times
“Erdelatz Is Oakland Pro Grid Coach,” 20