Deion Sanders is named Colorado’s new head coach after impressing at Jackson State
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Deion Sanders is named Colorado’s new head coach after guiding Jackson State to the SWAC Championship on Saturday and posting a 27-5 record in three seasons.
Colorado named Deion Sanders its new head coach Saturday night.
Sanders, 55, led Jackson State to the SWAC Championship early Saturday over Southern, capping a 27-5 record in three seasons.
“There were a number of impressive, highly-skilled candidates interested in becoming the next football head coach in Colorado, but none of them had the pedigree, knowledge and ability to connect with student-athletes like Deion Sanders.” said Colorado athletic director Rick. George said in a statement.
Colorado named Deion Sanders its new head coach after impressing at Jackson State
Sanders and his son and quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) sing the school song after the Southwestern Athletic Conference NCAA championship game on Saturday.
Sanders lifts the winner’s trophy after the Southwest Athletic Conference Championship
“Coach Prime will not only energize our fan base, I am confident he will bring our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and character.”
Sanders previously acknowledged that he was offered the job in Colorado, and CBS News Colorado reported that the Buffaloes were willing to give him more than $5 million annually.
The 55-year-old man had previously acknowledged that he was offered the Colorado job
ESPN reported that Sanders and his colleagues had already contacted coaches and staff in Boulder regarding their availability, and a similar outreach was conducted to point potential recruits to a program run by Sanders in Colorado.
A member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who also played in Major League Baseball, Sanders was a broadcaster after his playing career until Jackson State hired him in September 2020.
He led the Tigers to a 4-3 record in the spring 2021 season (postponed from the fall due to COVID-19), then guided Jackson State to an 11-2 mark and a SWAC title in the fall of 2021. That campaign ended with a loss to South Carolina State in the Celebration Bowl.
The Buffaloes got off to an 0-5 start this season, which led to the firing of head coach Karl Dorrell.
Mike Sanford took over on an interim basis and led the team to a 20-13 overtime victory over Cal in his debut, but Colorado then lost its final six games to finish 1-11 (1-8 Pac-12).