The DNVR CU Coaching Search Tracker

Welcome to the 2020 Colorado Coaching Search Tracker!

This page is where DNVR will keep all updates on the coaching search. When news breaks, the latest information will be added to the top of the story.

For more on potential head coaches, use this reference.

Here we go:

Tuesday, Feb. 18 (3:44 p.m.)

ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Tuesday that there was “no major traction” between CU and former All-American running back and offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy. Bieniemy is currently the offensive coordinator of the Kansas City Chiefs.

News and notes from around league on NFL Live…Joe Flacco undergoes MRI, Broncos confident he can play next year (in DEN or elsewhere); Kareem Hunt confident he’s in Browns’ plans for 2020; CU’s pursuit of Eric Bieniemy; Bucs’ attempt to retain Shaq Barrett could lead to tag pic.twitter.com/d18dHuTXuV

— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) February 18, 2020

Monday, Feb. 17 (5:47 p.m.)

Brian Howell of Buffzone reported that CU offensive coordinator Jay Johnson is headed to Michigan State.

Chris Kapilovic isn't the only #cubuffs assistant joining Mel Tucker at Michigan State. OC Jay Johnson is heading to the Spartans, as well: https://t.co/AwiguX4eRy

— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) February 18, 2020

Michigan State will have to pay $75,000 to buy out Johnson’s contract.

Monday, Feb. 17 (1:33 p.m.)

A list of candidates that Colorado is reportedly interested in interviewing has surfaced.

Zach Barnett of FootballScoop.com says sources told him that the following names are on Rick George’s list of potential candidates:

Eric Bieniemy, offensive coordinator Kansas City Chiefs
Bret Bielema, outside linebackers coach New York Giants
Jim McElwain, head coach Central Michigan
Steve Sarkisian, offensive coordinator Alabama
Blake Anderson, head coach Arkansas State
Justin Wilcox, head coach California
Darrin Chiaverini, interim head coach Colorado

FootballScoop.com also reported that phone interviews have been conducted over the past few days and that Rick George plans to progress into in-person interviews this week.

Former Power 5 head coaches have reached out to express their interest in the job, per FootballScoop.com.

More on Bieniemy, Bielema, Sarkisian and Chiaverini here.

Monday, Feb. 17 (1:17 p.m.)

247Sports.com’s Adam Munsterteiger is reporting that Colorado offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic is going to join Mel Tucker at Michigan State.

Chris Kapilovic turned down two lucrative coaching opportunities earlier this winter, assuming he would stay in Boulder as #CUBuffs' offensive line coach. But, with the #Buffs’ program in a state of limbo, he has decided to join Mel Tucker in East Lansing: https://t.co/TLcCaFYQll pic.twitter.com/zQCmK8jmHm

— Adam Munsterteiger (@adamcm777) February 17, 2020

Kapilovic was widely-speculated to be one of the assistant coaches who would follow Tucker, after Tucker opted to release the entire staff off assistant coaches at MSU. Since then, Tucker has filled two positions with former Spartan coaches.

Since Colorado does not have a head coach yet, the assistant coaches do not know if they will be retained to the new staff. If Tucker comes calling, it’d be difficult to turn down a job offer this late in the offseason process, since they do not know if they’ll have a job in Boulder.

As it stands, the offensive line coach, defensive line coach and an unnamed offensive assistant coaching spot are filled. All others remain open and Colorado’s assistants are very much in play to fill them.

Monday, Feb. 17 (1:06 p.m.)

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport is reporting that former Wisconsin and Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema will interview for the Buffs’ open head coaching job.

#Giants OLBs coach and senior defensive assistant Bret Bielema is interviewing for the head coaching job at the University of Colorado, sources say. The former Wisconsin and Arkansas coach could be back in college.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) February 17, 2020

Bielema, 50, led Wisconsin to Bowl games in all seven seasons as head coach. He led the Badgers to a bowl game in all seven seasons and the Rose Bowl in each of the last three. He finished with a 68-24 record.

At Arkansas, from 2013-2017, Bielema posted a 29-34 record and appeared in three bowl games in five seasons

More on Bielema here.

Sunday, Feb. 16

Eric Bieniemy is not the “leader in the clubhouse,” according to 9News’ Mike Klis. Klis reached out to Buffs sports information director David Plati, who spoke on behalf of athletic director Rick George.

This information comes just four days after Klis reported that Bieniemy and Colorado have “preliminary mutual interest.”

https://twitter.com/MikeKlis/status/1227787016747671552?s=20

More on Bieniemy here.

Wednesday, Feb. 12

Rick George announced via a press release the Darrin Chiaverini would be the interim head coach until a full-time coach was selected.

“I have a lot of confidence in Darrin to lead us through this interim period,” George said in a press release. “He has been associated with the program beginning with his playing days 25 years ago and cares deeply about the Buffs.”

Chiaverini has experience as Colorado’s offensive coordinator, and last year he was the assistant head coach and wide receivers coach. He is also an elite recruiter.

More on Chiaverini here.