Colorado's football staff is taking shape

BOULDER — The picture is becoming clearer.

Colorado is in the midst of major changes to its football coaching staff. Five of its 10 assistant coaches from the 2021 season have been replaced, and seven of the 10 assistants from head coach Karl Dorrell’s inaugural staff in 2020 are no longer with the program.

The most recent news came Monday.

First, The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman announced that quarterbacks coach Danny Langsdorf is headed to Temple to serve as quarterbacks coach and offensive coordinator. He’d spent two seasons with CU.

SOURCE: Temple is expected to hire Colorado QB coach Danny Langsdorf as the Owls new offensive coordinator and QB coach. Langsdorf has over a decade of Power 5 coordinator experience and also was an NFL quarterback coach with the Giants and Eli Manning.

— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) January 4, 2022

Then, The Boulder Daily Camera’s Brian Howell announced that outside linebackers coach Brian Michalowski will not be retained for the 2022 season. He’d served in that role since 2019, when he followed Mel Tucker to Boulder from Georgia.

Per a source, Colorado is not retaining OLB coach Brian Michalowski. He helped Carson Wells become a dominant force for the #cubuffs, but won't be back next season: https://t.co/kNEj4jeDUI

— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) January 3, 2022

The writing was on the wall for Michalowski when the team hired Vic So’oto—the former defensive line coach at USC—to coach the Buffs’ linemen. Although Michalowski and So’oto coach different positions, So’oto’s addition means that Chris Wilson will no longer coach defensive line, and he only has other experience at outside linebackers. Plus, the Buffs were pushed up against the 10 assistant coach limit imposed by the NCAA.

Here’s an updated look at where the staff stands:

HC: Karl Dorrell (since ’20)
OC: Mike Sanford Jr. (replaced Darrin Chiaverini last month)
DC: Chris Wilson (since ’21)
QB: *empty* (Langsdorf was not retained)
RB: *empty* (likely Darian Hagan for his 12th season, but no announcement yet)
WR: *empty* (Chiaverini fired after season)
TE: Bryan Cook (since ’21)
OL: Kyle DeVan (replaced Mitch Rodrigue and interim coach William Vlachos)
DL: Vic So’oto (replaced Chris Wilson, who will coach “position to be determined”)
ILB: Mark Smith (since ’21)
OLB: *empty* (Michalowski not retained)
CB: Rod Chance (Demetrice Martin left for Oregon after two seasons)
S: *empty* (Brett Maxie is likely to be retained for third season)

While five coaching positions are technically open, two of them are basically technicalities. Darian Hagan has been on-staff with the Buffaloes for 16 seasons, including 11 as running backs coach. He’s a virtual guarantee to return, though no announcement has been made and his contract expired after the season. Brett Maxie seems to be part of the team’s plans going forward, but his contract also expired and no announcement has been made about his future.

Two other positions will be filled by the coordinators. Wilson is likely to move to outside linebackers coach; it’s the only other position he’s coached and coaching outside linebackers is similar to linemen. If Maxie is back, this is the only position open on the defensive staff.

Mike Sanford, the offensive coordinator, will coach either the quarterbacks or the wide receivers. The Buffs will hire somebody to fill the other role. Assuming Maxie and Hagan are back, this will be the final addition to the staff.

Stay tuned to DNVR as the final tweaks to the staff are made over the next few days.