Ditching a successful coach is not new for the 49ers. A burned out Bill Walsh, who was disappointed he was stripped of his team president responsibilities, resigned following the 1988 championship season. The team fired George Seifert after 12-4 season in 1996. Steve Mariucci helped develop quarterback Jeff Garcia, and in his six seasons as head coach, he guided the team to four playoff appearances including the 1998 championship game.

However, after losing to the Buccaneers 31-6 in a 2002 divisional playoff game, Mooch was dumped by Dr. John York, who was running the team then.

Harbaugh departs after lifting the team out of an eight season playoff-less morass. He steered the team to three straight trips to the NFC title game before injuries and a lack of development offensively doomed the team this season.

Nevertheless, Harbaugh will reportedly accept a $48 million, 6-year deal to coach his alma mater, Michigan; he is scheduled to be introduced in Ann Arbor on Tuesday. Here are the compares and contrasts between Mariucci and Harbaugh.

COMPARES: Some believe the deterioation of the Harbaugh-49ers management relationship tracts to Harbaugh’s flirtation with Cleveland, when Harbaugh was reportedly open to being traded to the Browns. Some saw it as a ploy by Harbaugh to up his five-year, $25 million contract to a deal in the $7 million per range, which would put him in Seattle coach Pete Caroll’s neighborhood.

Similarly, Mariucci was approached by Notre Dame, and he used that as leverage for a more lucrative deal from the 49ers. Ownership then and now apparently did not appreciate their coaches using leverage against them after the coaches had a few years left on their deals.

Dr. York also felt that Mariucci defied his leadership when the coach offered to pay for players’ silver belt buckles after they won the 2001 NFC West divisional crown, which had become a tradition under former owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr.

Belt buckles were not in the budget according to York, and that’s when Mariucci offered to pay for them.

Whether Harbaugh undermined the team leadership is open to debate, yet some of Harbaugh’s difficulties with the 49ers and management are detailed here.

CONTRAST: After following championship coaches Walsh and Seifert, Mariucci was tasked with the awesome responsibility of maintaining the team’s outrageous success. When the 49ers failed to win championships under Mariucci, he was blamed.

Harbaugh swept in and hoisted the team to prominence after three failed coaches and an awkward ownership transition. Most still identify Harbaugh with the sublime turn around rather than the recent struggles, which are often pinned on offensive coordinator Greg Roman and quarterback Colin Kaepernick.

Harbaugh leaves as many fans’ hero, while Mariucci departed as the organization’s fall guy. The truth of these characterizations will forever be open to debate, which will likely be shaped by who the next 49ers coach will be and how the team fares under his leadership.