Assistant Scott set to rejoin the team

After two days of meetings, and nearly three weeks of legal limbo, first-year assistant coach Eric Scott will be allowed to return to the UCLA football team.

Scott, who has been on a paid leave of absence since his July 24 arrest on suspicion of residential burglary, met with Coach Karl Dorrell on Friday and Athletic Director Dan Guerrero on Saturday. He will rejoin the team for today’s practice.

“We went through everything and talked about every issue for him to have an understanding of what my expectations are,” said Dorrell, who also said he made the decision.

Scott, 32, was arrested along with two others and charged with residential burglary, but law enforcement authorities announced Thursday he would not be charged. Scott’s attorney throughout the investigation said his client was innocent.

“I was certain everything would be OK,” Scott said. “I was just more hurt and embarrassed for the university and . . . all the coaches and the families of the coaches here.”

Scott had expected to hear a decision Friday, a source familiar with the situation said. But Scott was informed he would have a meeting with Guerrero on Saturday, the source said.

In both meetings, Scott said, “we pretty much discussed what all employees at the university are expected to be. I’m just following those same guidelines. There was nothing detailed; nothing was overly emphasized.”

In a prepared statement, Guerrero said, “Eric’s reinstatement is the result of extensive reflection and a thorough process that has taken place over the last two weeks. While being supportive of the decision, I also reinforced with Eric the standards expected at UCLA.”

Guerrero was not made available to address how UCLA’s background check on Scott was mishandled or whether changes would be made in the process.

The arrest brought to light Scott’s criminal history, which Guerrero said he had no knowledge of despite a standard background check. Dorrell has said he was aware of some of Scott’s troubles but said he was not aware of his arrests. Scott admitted guilt to three misdemeanors -- two concealed-weapon cases and a disturbing-the-peace incident -- between 1996 and 2005.

Scott said he and Dorrell “talked during the [job] interview process and I mentioned a few things from my past. That was about it.”

Asked what happened July 24, Scott said, “I don’t want to go into detail about it. . . . I never want to feel like this again. I think this was the biggest lesson for me. The experience is not one that I would wish on anybody.”

The Bruins’ injury concerns have reached the point where Dorrell is declining to allow those injured to talk with the media.

Fullback Michael Pitre sat out practice Saturday, a day after injuring his left knee, on which he had arthroscopic surgery during the off-season. Dorrell said that Pitre had fluid drained from the knee and that “there doesn’t appear to be any structural damage.”

Guard Shannon Tevaga was out because of what Dorrell said were “[right] shoulder and wrist injuries.” Tailback Chane Moline sat out contact drills because of a cracked bone in his left hand, Dorrell said.

Tailback Ryen Carew returned to contact drills after being held out because of a nerve problem in his neck and right arm.

Cornerback Rodney Van (sprained ankle) went through some non-contact drills.

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chris.foster@latimes.com