Football: 49ers Head coach Singletary finds new special teams co-ordinator in Schottenheimer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The San Francisco 49ers have hired veteran NFL and college coach Kurt Schottenheimer as special teams co-ordinator.

The 60-year-old Schottenheimer was out of football last season after working as the Green Bay Packers' secondary coach from 2006-'08.

Niners head coach Mike Singletary also interviewed Bobby April, hired Thursday by the Philadelphia Eagles, and Larry Mac Duff.

After finishing 8-8, San Francisco declined to renew the contract of Al Everest, who took over the job from Mac Duff in 2007.

Upgrading the Niners' return game is among Singletary's off-season priorities after the team struggled in that area all season. The unit was last in the NFL in average punt return yardage and the San Francisco missed the playoffs for the seventh straight year.