SAN ANTONIO, TX – The most important addition to the Colorado Buffaloes’ rise wasn’t a player, it was the addition of co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini. In fact, without Chiaverini, there would not be a rise as he invented the phrase. Even without his clever catchphrase, Chiaverini’s contributions have been crucial.
He arrived in Boulder this year after coaching the last two seasons at Texas Tech as the special teams and wide receivers coach. “Chev” has brought a much-need fire to the Colorado offense.
Chiaverini a former Buff, played for the Browns, Cowboys, and Falcons in the National Football League. His official title at his alma mater is co-offensive coordinator, wide receiver coach and recruiting coordinator, and he has impacted the team in all of those areas.
With the addition of Chiaverini, the offense has taken an up-tempo spread approach and it has worked wonders for the Buffaloes this season. Chiaverini, along with the collaboration of co-offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren, has brought the offense from the bottom of the barrel in conference to one that has gained national attention.
“This is where we’re supposed to be,” Chiaverini explained. “We’re supposed to be in the national spotlight. We’re supposed to be on national television, I take it very personal because being a Buff and someone who wore the Black and Gold and someone that sung that fight song hundreds of times in those locker rooms, I think it’s where we’re supposed to be, and I can’t really express it in the words that I want to, but when you talk to kids and you see them talk about CU football and you see people wearing the logo and wearing the brand, it’s special, and it’s just the beginning for us. We’re heading the right direction.”
Chiaverini has added an edge that the offense which has led to some notable strides made. The addition of the spread bolstered a few new dimensions to the Colorado offense, including a faster pace and also a new found blocking aspect.
“[Chiaverini] has brought the blocking aspect,” wide receiver Shay Fields said. “Especially since we didn’t block well as a receiving corps last year. He’s brought out the fire in us too. Coach Walters, he did the same thing but I feel like Coach Chiaverini is more of a fired up coach and more of a hands-on coach. So I’d say he’s brought a lot to us.”
In order to be effective, head coach Mike MacIntyre, Lindgren and Chiaverini had to collaborate to create an offense that worked for all of them. Co-offensive coordinators wouldn’t work for every team, the reason it works so well for the Buffaloes is because of the meshing of two opposite personalities.
“I didn’t know what to think at first,” quarterback Sefo Liufau said. “I’ve never really heard of a co-offensive coordinator kind of system. But throughout the year and throughout — as the year progressed, it’s been wonderful. I think the cliché of saying two minds are better than one or however it goes, it’s been great. Each one has their own strengths and weaknesses, and they’ve both helped me grow a lot as a quarterback. They’ve helped this offense grow tremendously and allowed us to do a lot of positive things this year. It’s been nothing but great things. Coach Lindgren, I’ve been with him for four years now, and he’s always on me in a quiet way, always letting me know. And then Coach [Chiaverini] is kind of a little more outgoing with fire.”
Coach Chiaverini has not only helped the CU offense reach new heights but has also been able to make a tremendous impact as the recruiting coordinator. He’s been involved just about every recruit that has committed recently and he is the reason for the Texas pipeline that has seen verbals from huge names such as K.D. Nixon, Xavier Newman, Grant Polley and Laviska Shenault. Part of the reason for his recruiting success is his ability to relate to recruits by being a CU alumnus.
“It’s an honor,” Fields said about playing for a coach that attended CU. “Especially because you have somebody that’s been in your shoes, been where you been, wear that same uniform, it feels cool to have someone come back and teach you what they went through.”
In just a season, Chiaverini has helped change the culture for the better at Colorado. The Buffaloes’ rise, would have been impossible without him.
