Redlands football assistant headed back to NFL

University of Redlands assistant football coach Ejiro Evero is going back to the NFL as quality control specialist for the San Francisco 49ers. It is the same position he held with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2007 to 2009 before joining the Bulldogs staff.

Evero, a product of Alta Loma High School and resident of Rancho Cucamonga, is excited about the opportunity.

``I enjoyed my time at Redlands,'' he said. ``It was never meant to be permanent but I made some great friends here.  I'm excited about getting back in the NFL.''

Evero, 30, said his old coach at UC Davis Bob Biggs helped pave the way because he has had a long-standing relationship with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh. Evero said he almost had an opportunity to work with Harbaugh at Stanford but it didn't quite materialize.

Evero finished up his playing career at Davis in 2003, earning Division II All-American honors twice. He went on to coach the secondary there for four years, ending his run there in 2006.

  Evero coached the Bulldogs defensive backs and worked with the kicking game last season, helping Redlands to an 8-1 mark.  Veteran coach Mike Maynard will start looking for another assistant immediately.

"We are all very pleased for Coach Evero. He has truly earned the respect of our coaches and players here at the University of Redlands. We will remember Coach Evero as a man of great integrity who coached with passion and exceptional knowledge. Certainly, there will be many successful seasons ahead for him and we wish him all the best."

As quality control specialist Evero will be responsible for key behind the scenes duties such as breaking down game film and putting together the playbooks.

``All the little things the head coaches don't have time to do,'' he said.

Evero will leave today and start work with the team on Monday.