Getty Images

Former Raiders receiver Ronald Curry has joined the 49ers’ coaching staff.

The 33-year-old Curry, a 2002 seventh-round draft pick of the Raiders who played in Oakland for seven seasons, will be an offensive assistant, the 49ers announced today.

“The 49ers and our staff are pleased to be initiating Ronald’s NFL coaching career,” 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh said. “Our team will greatly benefit from Ronald’s athletic experiences, and we are happy that he and his wife, Stacie, are joining our football family.”

Harbaugh was on the Raiders’ coaching staff for Curry’s first two seasons, and Curry’s position coach at the start of his career with the Raiders, John Morton, is now the 49ers’ receivers coach. So although this move seems to come out of left field, Curry knows the staff and knows how they do things, and Harbaugh thinks Curry can add some value to the staff.

Curry was a spectacular schoolboy athlete who as a high schooler in Virginia was often compared favorably to Michael Vick as a quarterback and Allen Iverson as a point guard. He had scholarship offers from major schools to play both football and basketball, and he ended up playing both sports at North Carolina. He didn’t live up to his high school hype, but he did end up having a solid NFL career. And now he embarks on his post-playing career.