Stedman Bailey Named West Virginia Football Student Assistant Coach

Former Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Stedman Bailey is going back to college, where he will serve as a student assistant coach under West Virginia Mountaineers head football coach Dana Holgorsen. 

Per Mike Montoro of the team's website, Holgorsen announced on Sunday that Bailey will enroll at West Virginia and work with the Mountaineers football team in 2016.

Per Montoro, Bailey said he was grateful to the Rams for all of their support throughout his career, "especially during the past few months, which have been a tough time."

He also thanked West Virginia for the opportunity: 

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Moving forward, I would like to thank West Virginia University, especially coach Dana Holgorsen and athletic director Shane Lyons for making this opportunity available. Even though my playing career isn’t over yet, this gives me more time to heal so I can make a return. However, It is important to me to finish my degree. I loved my time as a Mountaineer football player and I look forward to working with coach Holgorsen and the Mountaineer football program.

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Rams head coach Jeff Fisher said Bailey's "ability to teach and his remarkable drive and determination will serve him well at West Virginia, and we wish him and his family the best as they step into the next chapter of their lives,” per Montoro.

In addition to working with the football team, Bailey will also be enrolling in classes to earn his bachelor's degree after he left as a junior following the 2012 season. 

The Rams drafted Bailey with the 92nd overall pick in 2013. He was the victim of a shooting in Florida in November, when a car pulled up next to the one he was in and opened fire, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (via NFL.com's Tyler Dragon).

The 25-year-old attended the Rams' organized team activities in June, helping coach the wide receivers. The team waived him June 7 and expected him to take on a non-playing role before the deal with West Virginia came about.

Bailey's resiliency in the face of unfathomable adversity is incredible. His desire to stay around the game of football has given him a great opportunity to teach young players while also earning his college degree at the university where he became an All-American.