The San Francisco 49ers are about set to finalize one of their coordinators. Two weeks after Sporting News columnist Alex Marvez reported Richard Hightower would likely become Kyle Shanahan’s special teams coordinator, ESPN’s Adam Caplan is reporting it is going to happen. The 49ers had interviewed Hightower along with Eric Sutulovich for the job.
Hightower made contact with Kyle Shanahan during their time together on Gary Kubiak’s coaching staff. Hightower also has a connection with the 49ers. He spent the 2015 season with the 49ers as assistant special teams coach under special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey.
The 49ers ranked No. 27 under McGaughey and Hightower in 2015, according to Football Outsiders. Last year, they ranked No. 17. Assessing the special teams is never an easy task given how many moving parts are involved. But in the meantime, here’s Hightower’s resume
2006-07: Coaching Assistant, Houston Texans
2008: Assistant Special Teams, Houston Texans
2009: Wide Receivers, University of Minnesota
2010-13: Assistant ST, Washington
2012-13: Assistant Defensive Backs, Washington
2014: Offensive Quality Control, Cleveland Browns
2015: Assistant ST, San Francisco 49ers
2016: Assistant ST, Chicago Bears