SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco 49ers did the right thing. The smart thing. The popular thing. Even stranger, they did it quickly.

They named Mike Singletary their head coach within minutes of the end of the 2008 season — a season that ended with a win, bringing Singletary's record to 5-4 and giving him a jump start on 2009.

"I don't think we could have written up a script any better than how it happened," newly appointed team president Jed York said, announcing the hiring.

Well, sure they could have. The 49ers could have fired Mike Nolan a year ago, rather than wasting half of this season. A true fairy-tale script would have had Singletary's team clinching a playoff berth, rather than missing the playoffs for the sixth season in a row.

And, to be honest, a better script would have included the arrival of a savvy, experienced NFL heavyweight like Mike Holmgren to be the team president, rather than giving that hefty title to Young Jed York.

But we digress. If you had been on the field at Candlestick when Singletary walked off — after a come-from-behind victory over Washington — you would have thought the team had made the playoffs. In the final moments of the 27-24 victory, the stadium was rocking.

In 10 weeks, Singletary completely changed the vibe around the 49ers.

"It's the right choice," said former 49ers great Bryant Young, who retired a year ago but was on hand for Sunday's big announcement. "This is what the team needs right now."

Are there concerns about Singletary? About hiring another rookie, defensive-minded head coach? Sure there are. The 49ers' problems are not solved — which is why naming Jed York team president seems like a self-indulgent move. A rookie head coach and an inexperienced general manager (Scot McCloughan) could use some guidance.

But Singletary is a special person, a better candidate than the Yorks ever could have stumbled upon in a coaching search. And any lingering concerns are mitigated by the force of his presence and the depth of his football intellect.

"He's born for this," said the person who knows Singletary best, his wife, Kim. "He's such a leader. Such a presence."

He also is a smart football man. Former 49ers linebacker Gary Plummer gave a much-needed defense of Singletary's football smarts on the radio Sunday. Don't box in Singletary as just a motivator. In nine games, he showed more football savvy than his predecessor did in almost four years. Singletary identified the strengths of his team and played to them. He knows defense, and, though he didn't reveal his plans, you can be sure Singletary has a plan for the offense.

On Sunday, for the first time since he's been the head coach, all seven of Singletary's children were on hand: Kristen, 22; Matt, 20; Jill, 18; Jackie, 15; Brooke, 14; Becky, 12; and John, 10.

When Singletary retired from playing after the 1992 season, he didn't pursue coaching, in order to be home when his children were small. "That was my nightmare," Kim said with a smile.

She wasn't kidding. She tells the story of how Singletary had one house built, then decided to construct a new one across the street because "he likes to see things being built.

"He has so much creative energy," Kim said. "He had the kids unloading the dishwasher with intensity. That didn't work so well at home."

Six years ago, Singletary finally diverted his attention from the dishwasher and returned to football, joining the staff of the Baltimore Ravens. He was hired by Nolan to be an assistant head coach with the 49ers, and watched the team struggle in mediocrity.

"He had to keep himself under wraps," Kim said. "He was very respectful of Mike Nolan, but he had stuff bursting to come out. There was so much of him that was squelched."

Singletary kept busy by taking notes and talking to everyone: referees, former coaches. He revamped the 49ers playbook for himself — throwing out what he didn't think worked, and keeping what he thought did. He compiled eight industrial-size binders. "It was his way of dealing with the frustration," Kim said.

Finally, on Oct. 21, Singletary had his own platform. There were a few early missteps — such as his rant after the first game and the revelation that he had dropped his pants at halftime — but he wasn't discouraged.

"It wasn't embarrassing," Kim said. "It was more like, 'Note to self: don't do that again."'

When Singletary apologized to the fans after his first game, it was genuine.

"I think that was pent-up for the last few years," Kim said.

There has been so much losing and frustration, so little direction or passion around the 49ers for so many years. And then Singletary fell into the Yorks' lap.

And now, after just 10 weeks, things feel totally different. The Yorks had an easy decision to make. They did the right thing and made it quickly.

As his wife said, Singletary likes to build things. And you can already see the 49ers' new building taking shape.