On his first day as coordinator, Jimmy Raye II wanted to clear up a misconception about the San Francisco 49ers' new offense.

Yes, the team is still going to use the forward pass.

"This is the new millennium. This is 2009," Raye said with a laugh. "I don't think you can play one-dimensional, and I never have."

That might come as a relief. Coach Mike Singletary has talked loudly and often about creating a tough, physical team that can dominate on the ground. He said it so often that some started to wonder whether he was scaring off some candidates during the 49ers' long, tumultuous odyssey to replace Mike Martz.

Singletary, in his first public comments since that search began, revealed Friday that the reason Scott Linehan withdrew as a candidate was a difference in philosophy. He said he told Linehan, "These are the things that I'm looking for when you get here. If you can't do these things, be honest and let me know."

Linehan thought it over for a few days and, as Singletary recounted Friday, said: "What you need right now, I don't think I can do that. So I'm going to have to back away."

Instead, Singletary found his man in Raye, who agreed to terms on a three-year deal contract Thursday night and will return to the Bay Area next week to put his name on the dotted line.

The longtime assistant coach spent last season as the running-backs coach for the New York Jets. Raye, 62, has 12 previous seasons as an offensive coordinator, most recently for the Raiders in 2004-05.

While in Oakland, Coach Norv Turner called the plays on game day. Raye described his role as the "backup play-caller," who would take over occasionally. While that role might feel like an affront to some coordinators, Raye said he has been around the game so long that he doesn't get caught up with titles. "The bottom line is you're just an assistant coach trying to do what the head coach as the leader of the organization is trying to get done," he said.

So what will a Raye offense look like? Singletary and Raye clicked over what they called their shared vision of a tough, physical football team. The rest of the X's and O's will be determined later, when Raye has a better grasp of the 49ers' personnel. (Raye, for example, withheld evaluation of the quarterback situation.)

"It's not about someone coming in with their system," Singletary said. "I don't really get excited about a system. "& Systems don't work without leadership and without preparation and without that vision."

Raye was the eighth candidate to interview for the job, arriving at team headquarters on the same day Hue Jackson was back for a second interview. Raye won the job not just by saying the right things — but by saying them forcefully. "It's the conviction," Singletary said.

Raye was born in 1946, like the 49ers franchise itself. He grew up to be a star quarterback at Michigan State before embarking on a coaching career. His first job as an NFL assistant coach was with the 49ers in 1977.

Since, he has been the offensive coordinator for the Rams (twice), Buccaneers, Patriots, Chiefs, Redskins and Raiders.

Raye pointed to his successful 2000 Chiefs team as evidence that he can air it out when called upon. Quarterback Elvis Grbac threw for 4,169 yards and 28 touchdowns that season, while tight end Tony Gonzalez and receivers Andre Rison and Derrick Alexander also had big seasons.

"I have no objection to throwing the football," he said.

Raye and Singletary met for the first time Dec. 7, when the Jets visited Candlestick Park. Before the game, Raye walked across the field to introduce himself.

They continued to talk during the 49ers' off-season search. Singletary liked Raye but held off on an offer until discussing him with the rest of the current coaching staff. Singletary asked for their thoughts and asked them, "Can you work with this person?"

Raye got the nod. He becomes the 49ers' seventh offensive coordinator in seven seasons and inherits an offense that ranked 23rd in total yardage last season.

"It certainly took longer than we would have liked it to," Singletary said. "But sometimes good things come to those who wait."