SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Even though Greg Blache is happy after three decades in coaching, he'd welcome the chance to start over in San Francisco.

Blache, the Chicago Bears' defensive coordinator, met Friday with 49ers owner John York and general manager Terry Donahue for an in-depth interview and a tour of the team's training complex.

After four seasons in charge of the Bears' successful defense, Blache has earned a reputation as one of the NFL's pre-eminent defensive masterminds -- but he also feels he has the pedigree, the experience and the temperament to improve on the work of Steve Mariucci.

"I've often said I wouldn't take just any coaching job that came along,'' Blache said Friday night outside the team offices. "There are certain things I wanted to make sure were in place. I'm not exactly a young kid anymore. I might only get one chance, and this is the one I had to make sure I had a chance at.''

Blache's interview wrapped up three days of in-depth talks with the three NFL defensive coordinators known to be finalists. The job has been vacant since York fired Mariucci on Jan. 15 after a 10-6 season, a division title and a trip to the second round of the playoffs.

On Wednesday, New York Jets defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell met with York and Donahue in Santa Clara. On Thursday, 49ers defensive coordinator Jim Mora got the same treatment. None of the three coordinators has been a head coach before.

By Blache's account, discussions with fellow Notre Dame alumnus York went well.

"I'm very excited about being in this position to have the opportunity to get a job like this,'' Blache said. "Because this is one of the best franchises, not just in the NFL, but in all of sports. When you (talk about) the 49ers, it invokes a feeling of a great organization with a lot of tradition.

"It's a talented team that was in the playoffs the last two years,'' he said. "There's not a lot you have to do to get them over the top.''

The 49ers are expected to add at least one college coach to the mix, perhaps as early as this weekend. No college candidates have been formally identified, but longtime UCLA coach Donahue is thought to be interested in Oregon coach Mike Bellotti, Oregon State coach Dennis Erickson and Washington coach Rick Neuheisel.

There's no timetable on the search, but with the second round of interviews now complete, a decision could be made soon. York, who lives in Youngstown, Ohio, might not return home until a coach is named.

All three coordinators seem to be viable candidates for the job, but Blache's reputation as a strict disciplinarian with a colorful personality sets him apart. His demeanor -- and his playing and coaching history at Notre Dame -- likely attracted York, who hinted at problems with team discipline under the relaxed Mariucci.

"My biggest sell is I come here and I don't have a lot of glitter,'' Blache said. "All my accomplishments were gained on the battlefield. I'm just a grunt. I've just worked my way up. I have no pedigree, except maybe my Notre Dame education and that's about it.

Like Cottrell and Mora, Blache said he would welcome the chance to work with the three offensive assistant coaches already under contract to San Francisco next season. Blache knows the West Coast offense well from his days on Mike Holmgren's staff in Green Bay.

Offensive coordinator Greg Knapp, offensive line coach Pat Morris and quarterbacks coach Ted Tollner are expected to return next season, though the final say would go to the new coach.

"I think the West Coast offense complements my philosophy as a defensive coach,'' Blache said. "It's a very detailed offense, and I think I'm a very detailed person. It's one of those things where you know you can take certain people, plug it in and put points on the board.''