49ers add former Raiders WR Ronald Curry as offensive assistant

Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers made an addition to the coaching staff on Monday, as the team announced the hiring of Ronald Curry as an offensive assistant. Curry was previously a wide receiver with the Oakland Raiders from 2003 to 2008. He was a much ballyhooed high school prospect, eventually ending up as the starting quarterback for the University of North Carolina. Over the last three years, Curry was head football coach and athletic director at Morrisville High School in Morrisville, North Carolina.

The offensive assistant gets involved in all sorts of work, and oftentimes we see ex-players filling these roles. The most notable 49ers offensive assistant the last couple years was Bobby Engram in 2011. After one season with the 49ers, Engram joined the Pitt coaching staff as wide receivers coach. The most recent 49ers offensive assistant addition was former Washington State head coach Paul Wulff. The 49ers hired Wulff last May.

This is not a high profile hiring by any stretch, but it is an interesting one. Coach Harbaugh got his start in NFL coaching as an offensive assistant with the Oakland Raiders. He was with Oakland for the 2002 and 2003 seasons. The 2003 season happened to be Ronald Curry's rookie year. Curry was converted to wide receiver, but given his quarterback roots, I have to think he and Harbaugh had a chance to connect on that level. That might explain the addition.

Curry had a fairly nondescript playing career, although I think he could have done a lot more if not for his Achilles injuries. Our friends at Silver & Black Pride have some video of the one NFL play some fans remember when they think of Curry.