Bears name assistant special teams coach

The Bears named Richard Hightower their assistant special teams coach Tuesday morning.

Hightower had served in the same role for the 49ers last year; ironically, he fills the role of Derius Swinton, who left to run the 49ers’ special teams.

Hightower worked alongside offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains as the Browns’ offensive quality control coach in 2014. He was the Redskins assistant special teams coach for four years before that, and also helped coach defensive backs from 2012-13. He worked for the Texans from 2006-08, spending the final season as a special teams assistant. In 2009, he coached wideouts — including future pro Eric Decker — at the University of Minnesota.

He was a walk-on at the University of Texas, playing from 1999-2002.

The Bears still need to fill their wide receivers coach position. The coaching staff is in Mobile, Ala., which serves as a de facto job fair during Senior Bowl week.

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Email: pfinley@suntimes.com