Stanford assistant Roman interviews with 49ers

(01-11) 19:31 PST -- New 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is spending his first week on the job meeting with the current coaching staff and interviewing potential replacement hires - including some he just left behind at Stanford.

Stanford assistant head coach Greg Roman has emerged as an offensive coordinator candidate, according to a league source aware of Harbaugh's talks with Roman.

Harbaugh also met with Stanford defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, a three-time NFL coordinator who is contemplating a return to the league.

Fangio and Roman were key figures under Harbaugh in Stanford's 12-1 season that culminated with a top-five BCS ranking and Orange Bowl victory.

Roman is a 13-year NFL coaching veteran who joined Stanford after two years in Baltimore with Harbaugh's brother, John.

At Stanford, Roman was the running game coordinator in 2009 and the associate head coach this past season, all while leading the tight ends and offensive tackles both years.

He was quarterbacks coach to David Carr for two years in Houston and twice worked for former NFL coach Dom Capers.

Roman has never been listed as the play caller, and may be hired as a positional coach instead, but Harbaugh has indicated he'll have a say in running the West Coast offense no matter whom he hires as coordinator.

Stanford offensive coordinator David Shaw is a candidate to get Harbaugh's old job but also could get consideration if Stanford hires a different head coach.

Former quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson ran the 49ers offense the final 13 games of the season after offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye was fired.

Harbaugh has also made it clear he wants to go in a new direction at defensive coordinator, giving Greg Manusky permission to pursue other jobs despite being under contract.

Manusky, who has led the 49ers' defense for four years, interviewed for the same position in Arizona on Tuesday. He'll interview for the defensive coordinator position today in Dallas and is reportedly heading to San Diego next.

Fangio is widely considered the lead candidate to replace Manusky, but he, too, is a candidate for the Cowboys job.

Harbaugh has been meeting with the rest of the coaching staff this week and told some to expect a decision within a week.

Wide receivers coach Jerry Sullivan previously told the Sacramento Bee that he intended to retire after 19 NFL seasons, including the past six with the 49ers.

E-mail David White at dwhite@sfchronicle.com.

This article appeared on page B - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle