The San Francisco 49ers announced today the hiring of Jason Michael as the team's offensive assistant. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.
Michael brings both NFL and collegiate coaching experience to San Francisco. He most recently served as the tight ends coach at the University of Tennessee during the 2008 season after spending the previous two years as a member of the New York Jets coaching staff. During his first year with the Jets in 2006, Michael served as the team's quality control coach, which included working with the quarterbacks alongside offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. The following season, he was assigned to assistant tight ends coach for the team. Prior to joining the Jets, Michael served as an offensive quality control coach and video assistant for the Oakland Raiders in 2005.
Michael broke into the coaching ranks as a graduate assistant at the University of Tennessee, where he spent the 2004 season as the primary graduate assistant for defense and special teams. He first arrived at the school as an assistant for both the strength and conditioning and video staffs in 2003.
A collegiate athlete, Michael played quarterback for Western Kentucky from 1999 to 2002, where he threw for more than 1,600 yards and rushed for over 600 yards as a senior. He was named the team's MVP that season after leading the Hilltoppers to the NCAA Division I-AA National Championship.
A native of Louisa, Kentucky, Michael graduated from Western Kentucky with an undergraduate degree in civil engineering technology.
