CU announces Karl Dorrell as next head football coach

The University of Colorado will hire Miami Dolphins assistant head coach Karl Dorrell to serve as the Buffs’ new head coach, according to a news release from CU Sports Information. Dorrell signed a five-year contract worth $18 million. He’ll make $3.2 million in 2020 and his salary will increase by $200,000 in each year of his deal.

According to the release, Dorrell is proposing an assistant coaching salary pool of $3.8 million. It is currently set at $3.155 million.

The next step is for the university’s board of regents to approve the contract.

The Dolphins promoted Dorrell to assistant head coach earlier this week after he was the team’s wide receivers coach in 2019. In his lone season with Miami he helped DeVante Parker to his best season as a pro. The five-year vet posted over 1,200 yards on 72 catches with nine touchdowns.

Dorrell, 56, runs a West Coast offense and has years of experience as a play-caller. His offense is fairly complex and he places an extra emphasis on executing details. Dorrell’s multiple NFL and NCAA stops should give him plenty of options to build a new staff in Boulder.

Dorrell has head coaching experience. He led the UCLA Bruins from 2003-07 and amassed a 35-27 record and made it to a bowl game in each of his five seasons before being fired. His best year came in 2005 when he won 10 games and was named Pac-10 Coach of the Year.

Dorrell has Colorado ties as well. He was CU’s receivers coach from 1992-93 and again from 1995-98. He was also the offensive coordinator in his second stint. Notably, current staff-member and former Buffs receiver Darrin Chiaverini played under Dorrell. In his first stint, he coached Charles Johnson and Michael Westbrook.

Dorrell went on to be the Washington offensive coordinator for one year before taking over as the Denver Broncos’ receivers coach from 2000-02. He coached Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey to 1,000-yard seasons, making them only the second-ever NFL duo to do so.

Since leaving UCLA, Dorrell has largely served as an NFL wide receivers or quarterbacks coach. He’s made multiple stops with the Miami Dolphins, as well as stops with the Houston Texans and New York Jets. While coaching the Jets, he worked with Brandon Marshall and Eric Decker, one of the top receiving duos in the league at the time. He also helped develop Quincy Enunwa and Robby Anderson.

His one NCAA stop since leaving UCLA in 2007 came in 2014 when he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Vanderbilt.

Dorrell’s predecessor, Mel Tucker, spent one year in Boulder. He posted a 5-7 record and Colorado missed out on a bowl game for the third-consecutive season. He also recruited one of the top classes of high school prospects in the last decade.

Tucker resigned from the program Feb. 11 to take a job at Michigan State. His 2020 salary doubled from $2.7 million to $5.4 million. Per his contract with Colorado, Michigan State must pay $3 million to Colorado to release him from the contract.

Offensive coordinator, wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Chiaverini filled in as interim head coach during the coaching search. Chiaverini reportedly interviewed for the full-time job, as did several other candidates.

Tucker also brought offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic from Colorado to Michigan State, so there are two more open jobs on the Buffs’ coaching staff. Dorrell could opt to replace other coaches currently on staff as well. Those positions should be filled in the near future.