49ers’ front-office accountability remains suspect

Jim Harbaugh and CEO Jed York before the 49ers’ regular-season finale against Arizona on Dec. 28. Jim Harbaugh and CEO Jed York before the 49ers’ regular-season finale against Arizona on Dec. 28. Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Photo: Ezra Shaw / Getty Images Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close 49ers’ front-office accountability remains suspect 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

Well, that was about as neat and tidy as the bare patches on the Levi’s Stadium field.

The 49ers’ power duo, CEO Jed York and general manager Trent Baalke, sat side by side at a podium Monday and spent almost an hour explaining their divorce from Jim Harbaugh.

And though the key word of the day was “accountability,” there was precious little of it.

In fact, the most truthful answer came when they were asked how much they would reveal about the search for a new coach.

“Are we ever transparent in what we do?” Baalke asked with a chuckle.

Short answer: no.

And there was little transparency about the reasons for the breakdown in the relationship between the best coach the 49ers have had in two decades and the organization that he took to three consecutive NFC Championship Games.

There was a lot of talk about philosophical differences. But no explaining exactly what the team philosophy is: Is it about winning? Or something less tangible?

Talk about accountability. Even though Baalke and York scurried away from being accountable at key moments in recent seasons.

And about consistency. Although getting rid of a coach who has won consistently seems the antithesis of that.

Also about hiring “a teacher.” Though Harbaugh was considered a quarterback teacher in the mold of a Bill Walsh and has hired a staff of good coaches who can teach the game.

About winning Super Bowls. Though the last time the 49ers won one was 20 years ago next month, and the closest they got to another was two years ago under Harbaugh.

And about “winning with class.” Though the two men most responsible for picking the players, enabling them and failing to insist on an organizational policy that would discipline off-the-field issues were both sitting at the podium.

By the end of 50 minutes, it all just sounded like a lot of words. Words spun for public consumption, unlike the whispered words that have been leaking out of the 49ers’ organization for more than a year about how difficult Harbaugh was to work with and how this was going to be his last year.

Whispers that, incidentally, began long before the offense tanked, the losses mounted and the injuries piled up. In other words, this was a foregone conclusion, and the fact that the 49ers fell short of the playoffs was simply extremely convenient.

York flat-out denied he was the source of all those leaks. He also insisted that this was a mutually agreed-upon parting. Which may be true. There are two sides of every story, though Harbaugh resisted leaking his side of things.

But it was also clear that none of these so-called leaders tried to salvage a relationship that started so promisingly and ended up so dysfunctional. That there was no grown-up involved to mediate the differences. York, a few times, compared himself to his uncle, Eddie DeBartolo, while failing to mention that DeBartolo insulated his own ego and impetuousness with the presence of team President Carmen Policy and a very adult John McVay. The current president, Paraag Marathe, was not seen Monday.

York said his uncle “missed many times” on his hires, as though that would make the fans feel better about trusting York (and the true owners, his parents) to make another hire. Unlike the Yorks, who spent eight years losing before Harbaugh arrived, DeBartolo took over in 1977 and hired Bill Walsh in 1979.

“I’ll be the first to tell you, if we aren’t winning a Super Bowl, you should hold me accountable,” York said. “You should jump down my throat. I welcome that, and I’m ready for the challenge.”

One issue of credibility involved the 49ers’ off-field issues: The 49ers have been embarrassed by several arrests and players caught in compromising situations. While the team was in the crosshairs nationally, on issues such as domestic violence and alcohol abuse, with Ray McDonald and Aldon Smith (players whom the 34-year old York oddly referred to as “kids”), Harbaugh was left to twist in the wind. York and Baalke were virtually invisible.

“During the season Jim was going to be the voice of the football team,” said Baalke, who despite that had his own weekly radio show. “That’s how we operated. All of the decisions were made collectively. That’s how it was designed.”

York added, “And I don’t believe that’s going to change with our next head coach.”

So, again, how to hold him accountable when he’s not present? Except maybe in off-the-record conversations to friendly national media types? Not quite clear.

But what was broken will not be fixed and now Baalke and York move into the post-Harbaugh era, clearly confident that they are the brains and reason behind the 49ers’ recent resurgence.

Now they have to hire a great coach, one who will convince people that Harbaugh was worth dumping. That might be easier said than done, because the football world is looking at the 49ers right now and scratching its collective head. They fired who? After doing what? They say they “only hang Super Bowl banners” and that’s the only standard? They want the head coach to take all the heat but they’ll be sure to get the glory?

Sounds like a great job.

At the tail end of the lengthy news conference, Baalke sidestepped a question about Aldon Smith’s name appearing last week in a police search warrant affadavit. When the questioner protested and said, “but you didn’t answer my question,” Baalke laughed.

“I’m good at that,” he said.

Hey! Another grain of truth.

Ann Killion is a San Francisco Chronicle columnist. E-mail: akillion@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @annkillion