Colorado coach Deion Sanders presided over a woeful 3-9 season in Boulder last year, missing out on bowl eligibility. As a result of his team’s fall from grace, Sanders cracked the whip and totally revamped his coaching staff.
Perhaps one of the most shocking moves was Coach Prime firing special teams coordinator Michael Pollock, who spent five seasons working for Sanders, dating back to his tenure as head coach of the Jackson State Tigers.
NFL Veteran Blasts Deion Sanders’ Controversial Staff Decision
While speaking to reporters after Colorado’s third spring practice on Friday, Coach Prime revealed that he would not hire a special teams coordinator to replace Pollock next season, while praising his staff’s capacity.
“We don’t have a special teams coordinator,” Sanders said. “They are changes to you, they’re not changes to us. You don’t think we didn’t know there was a possibility of something could possibly happen? You think we were not prepared for what could consequently happen?”
“If I were you, instead of investigating and trying to dissect it and find wrong, I would find right and clap, ‘Hey, he did that.’ We knew what time it was and I’m thankful that we knew.”
NFL veteran Matt Overton blasted Coach Prime on X for doing away with the Buffs’ special teams coordinator and deciding not to hire one ahead of next season.
“This program continues to look foolish. No special teams coordinator? My question would be, is special teams being coordinated by a committee? Who will meet and work with the specialists? Who will conduct meetings, game plans, and practice? I can’t take this program serious,” Overton tweeted.
During the 2024 season, Coach Prime did not have a special teams coordinator either, and he ultimately elevated Pollock from quality control assistant to the position for the 2025 season. In several quarters, Coach Prime’s Colorado project was dismissed after he fired several coaches, with some leaving just a few weeks ago.
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He hired Brennan Marion from Sacramento State to replace offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur and elevated Chris Marve to defensive coordinator after Robert Livingston left for the Denver Broncos.
To complete his staff overhaul, Sanders, who is entering a pivotal fourth season in Boulder, promoted Dante Carter to the defensive line coach and Johnnie Mack to the running backs coach after Domata Peko and Marshall Faulk left the program.
