Colorado hires Vic So'oto as defensive line coach

BOULDER — The Buffs nabbed another young coach.

Colorado hired Vic So’oto to coach the team’s defensive line, the school announced Thursday. Chris Wilson served as the defensive line coach the past two seasons under head coach Karl Dorrell, and coordinated the defense in 2021. He will continue to coordinate the defense and will now coach “a position to be determined,” according to the press release.

“I am excited to become a part of Karl Dorrell’s staff at the University of Colorado,” So’oto said in a press release. “Teaching and building are my passions and I can’t wait to get started in Boulder.”

So’oto, 34, graduated from BYU in 2011. He played four seasons in the NFL as a linebacker after initially going undrafted. So’oto joined BYU’s coaching staff in 2015 as an intern. In 2016, he joined Virginia’s staff as a graduate assistant. He was promoted to defensive line coach for the next three seasons. Then, So’oto joined USC’s staff in the same position for two seasons. Lincoln Riley did not retain So’oto when he took over the Trojans’ program in December, instead bringing Oklahoma’s defensive ends and outside linebackers coach with him from Norman.

“Vic is an impressive young coach,” Dorrell said in a press release.  “He is a great communicator, teacher and developer who relates very well with his players. His body of work speaks volumes, and I know our players will gravitate to his teaching style.”

So’oto signed the top-rated recruit in the 2021 recruiting class, defensive lineman Korey Foreman. That was part of the reason he was USC’s third-ranked recruiter in that cycle, according to 247Sports.

The biggest question now is where Chris Wilson fits into this coaching staff. He’s a veteran coach who should be able to handle any position, but he’s only coached defensive linemen outside of two seasons in the ’90s when he coached outside linebackers. Brian Michalowski has coached CU’s outside linebackers since Mel Tucker was in town, and he’s considered an up-and-comer. It seems unlikely he’d be replaced… unless there’s another position for him to coach.

Only inside linebackers coach Mark Smith is currently under contract for the 2022 season on the defensive side of the ball, other than Wilson and So’oto, but Michalowski seems like a lock to be on the staff, as does safeties coach Brett Maxie.

Cornerbacks coach Demetrice Martin left CU for Oregon last week, leaving the open spot on the staff sheet. Smith was Arkansas’ defensive backs coach in 2018 and 2019. The easiest solution could be to push smith to cornerbacks coach and let Wilson fill in as the inside linebackers coach. Or, maybe CU will consider having Maxie serve as defensive backs coach, instead of just coaching the safeties.

The fact that the Buffs are willing to move some staff around in order to bring in So’oto is, of course, a sign that they really like him.

The stats give good reason to like him…

• In 2019, Virginia ranked 9th in the nation in sacks and 22nd in tackles for loss
• In 2018, Virginia ranked 20th in total defense and 21st in passing defense
• Virginia’s run defense improved every season So’oto was coaching the defensive line
• With USC, he coached (likely) future NFLers Marlon Tuipolotu, Drake Jackson, Nick Figueroa, Tuli Tuipolotu and others

Who knows what this staff will look like in a couple of weeks.