Stedman Bailey -- the ex-Rams WR who was shot in the head twice last year -- says he's NOT giving up his NFL dreams .... just because he's taken a job as a college assistant coach.
25-year-old Bailey was waived by the Rams last month because he hasn't been medically cleared to play football yet -- and was hired as a student assistant coach at West Virginia University.
Many saw the move as a sign that Bailey was turning the page on his pro football career -- but his agent, Tony Fleming , tells TMZ Sports that just ain't the case.