By Jordan Long
The University of Colorado hired the next Head Coach of their football program. The job had been open since February 12th after Mel Tucker decided to take the Michigan State Head Coaching job. Colorado interviewed Air Force Head Coach Troy Calhoun and the University of Alabama Offensive Coordinator Steve Sarkisian who were the favorites to land the gig.
Sarkisian received a huge payday to stay with Alabama to take his name out of consideration. Calhoun made, sense but he is going to stay put at Air Force. Colorado went with wide receivers Coach of the Miami Dolphins Karl Dorrell who agreed to a 5-year deal worth $18 million.
Dorrell has ties to the University of Colorado. He was the wide receivers coach from 1992 to 1993 under Bill McCartney. Dorrell was also the offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach from 1995-1998 when Rick Neuheisel was the Head Coach in Boulder, Colorado.
According to CBSsports.com, Dorrell said, “I’m excited to be back, it’s like coming home. The thing that excited me about this job is that my experience in the past here for the most part has been very successful. We had a lot of good teams, went to a lot of good bowl games. It’s a top-caliber program that has a lot of potential, and I’m excited to return it to that level.”
This is a surprise hire, but Dorrell brings collegiate Head Coaching experience to Colorado. He was the Head Coach of the UCLA Bruins from 2003 to 2007. In his 5 years, the Bruins went 35-27, a winning percentage of .565. UCLA managed to go to 4 bowl games but was 1-3. He was let go after a disappointing 6-6 season in 2007, the only year UCLA didn’t earn a bowl game.
Colorado is hoping Dorrell brings success to Colorado. Colorado hasn’t been to a bowl game since 2016 when they lost the Alamo Bowl to Oklahoma State. Before that, they played in the Independence Bowl in 2007. Colorado’s previous bowl game win came in 2004 when they beat Texas El-Paso in the Houston Bowl 33-28.
Colorado wants to be bowl eligible in the 2020 season. That should be the goal for Dorrell. If he can turn Colorado around to even win 7 games next year, it would be an accomplishment. The ultimate goal for Dorrell needs to be winning the Pac-12 Conference and earning their way to a New Year’s Day bowl game and maybe a trip to the College Football Playoff. Dorrell has a lot of work to do to help Colorado become a winning program once again.
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