DL coach Vic So'oto is leaving Colorado

BOULDER — Tough break for the Buffs. Again.

Colorado announced Monday that defensive line coach Vic So’oto will leave CU. So’oto, 34, joined the staff in December. So’oto previously coached defensive linemen at USC but wasn’t retained when new head coach Lincoln Riley signed on in December.

According to CU, So’oto will return to his home state of California to take a coaching position there. The decision was made for “family reasons.” The So’oto’s have three sons and two daughters.

“It is disappointing we’re losing Vic after just two months, but this is purely family related,” head coach Karl Dorrell said in a press release.  “He has five young children and with most of both sides of his family living in California, they can use the additional support.  So we understand why he wants to take advantage of an opportunity to move back and be closer to them.”  The So’otos have three sons and two daughters.

Colorado tweaked its staff to fit So’oto into the picture, relieving Brian Michalowski of his outside linebackers coach position and replacing him with defensive coordinator and previous defensive line coach Chris Wilson. Now, the Buffs will search to find So’oto’s replacement well after the normal hiring period has ended.