Tomsula not headed to Pitt — Chryst hired

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Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was hired as the University of Pittsburgh's head coach Thursday, ending speculation that Jim Tomsula of the 49ers might get the post.

Chryst joined the Badgers as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2005. He served as Wisconsin's tight ends coach in 2002. From 2003-4 he was offensive coordinator at Oregon State and has NFL experience as an assistant with the San Diego Chargers (1999-2001).

Earlier this week a story on SFGate.com reported that Tomsula had either interviewed or would interview for the job.

Following the SFGate.com report, Rich Walsh of WPXI TV NBC indicated on Twitter that Tomsula had "no shot" at the Pitt job.

Additionally, Bob Lichtenfels, a national recruiting analyst with Fox Sports tweeted that "sources close to the situation indicate that there has been no contact" between Pitt and Tomsula.

Tomsula won in his interim stint as 49ers head coach, leading San Francisco to a 38-7 win over the Arizona Cardinals in the season finale.

Current head coach Jim Harbaugh retained Tomsula as defensive line coach following Harbaugh's hire as the 49ers head coach.

Before coming to the 49ers in 2007, Tomsula, 43, was a head coach in NFL Europe with the Rhein Fire.

San Francisco head coach Jim Harbaugh has expressed confidence in Tomsula on several occasions this season, as recently as Tuesday, saying, "I trust in what (defensive coordinator) Vic (Fangio) and Jim Tomsula and the defensive staff is doing."

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