Following the leaders — help wanted

Random, colliding thoughts on coaches and their bosses ...

Evidence is growing that Jed York loves the spotlight. That’s bad news for 49ers fans hoping York might step away from his CEO duties to escape the heat. How does he live with the criticism and his team’s stunning lack of success? By dismissing the harpers as the ignorant lunatic fringe. Wealth and fame can build a fortress of smug solitude.

There’s no formula for finding a great football coach, but it’s funny how many of the Bay Area great ones have had strong local ties: — Tom Flores, John Madden, Bill Walsh, George Seifert, Jim Harbaugh, David Shaw and (chance to be great) Jack Del Rio. In baseball: Billy Martin, Bill Rigney.

Somebody in the 49ers’ high command is leaking info. Somebody told the media about the phone chat between York and Chip Kelly the day before the final game. Either York can’t keep his mouth shut when the national media guys come calling, or he shares his deep secrets with the wrong people in the organization.

Or it could be that York leaks stuff because he loves being besties with the national media heavyweights, who make him feel legit.

Why we’ll miss Chip Kelly: “Is the NSA listening in on our phones?” Kelly asked, concerning the leak of the Kelly-York phone call. Most football coaches have no idea what or who the NSA is. Naughty Secrets Areus? Hire a head coach first, or a GM first? It doesn’t matter! The 49ers hired a coach (Bill Walsh), then a GM ( John McVay). The Raiders (Reggie McKenzie, Del Rio) did it the other way around. The key is to hire two people who are not power-crazed egomaniacs.

The firing of Sonny Dykes was not a great moment for Cal, and it was made more embarrassing by officials of this great university issuing simplistic, mattress-tag statements about the deal. I challenge you to read the generic quotes of Chancellor Nicholas Dirks and athletic director Mike Williams and stay awake. Pure prattle.

At least they didn’t mention “culture.”