49ers hire Saleh, Hightower in coaching roles

SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers have hired Robert Saleh as defensive coordinator and Richard Hightower as special teams co-ordinator for Kyle Shanahan’s new staff. The team also announced the additions of seven other assistants on Friday, including the retaining of senior defensive assistant Jason Tarver and defensive backs coach Jeff Hafley from Chip Kelly’s staff. Saleh gets his first chance as a coordinator after spending the past 12 seasons as an assistant for Jacksonville, Seattle and Houston. Hightower returns to San Francisco, where he was assistant special teams coach in 2015. He spent last year with Chicago.