Colorado University Athletics
Coach Prime Named Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year
November 30, 2023 | Football
BOULDER – Deion "Coach Prime" Sanders has been named the Sports Illustrated Sportsperson of the Year, the publication announced Thursday.
The publication stated, "Sanders's blend of unparalleled athletic accomplishments and transformative impact on the football program, school and community of Boulder transcends sports and ripples throughout the culture."
Coach Prime will be accepting the award at a free star-studded public event at the CU Events Center on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. (REGISTER TO CLAIM FREE TICKETS). In addition to the award, the night will also include the world premiere of "Coach Prime" season two, the hit docuseries from Amazon Prime Video.
Just the seventh coach to receive the honor, Coach Prime joins legendary leaders Pat Summit, Mike Krzyzewski, Don Shula, Dean Smith, and John Wooden as Sportsperson of the Year.
This is the seventh time Coach Prime has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the first coming back in 1989 while still at Florida State. Others featured on the cover are CU Chancellor Philip DiStefano, Athletic Director Rick George, 99-year-old superfan Peggy Coppom, Sanders's children Deion Jr., Shedeur, Shelomi, and Shilo, longtime manager and SMAC Entertainment Co-founder/CEO Constance Schwartz-Morini, trusted advisors Ray Forsett and Sam Morini, and a crowd of dedicated Buffs fans.
This is the third time Colorado Football has been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, along with a photo of Phil Irwin on Oct. 3, 1970, after the Buffs beat Penn State and a photo of "The Catch" featuring Michael Westbrook and his iconic catch at Michigan on Oct. 3, 1994.
The publication stated, "Sanders's blend of unparalleled athletic accomplishments and transformative impact on the football program, school and community of Boulder transcends sports and ripples throughout the culture."
Coach Prime will be accepting the award at a free star-studded public event at the CU Events Center on Dec. 6 at 7:30 p.m. (REGISTER TO CLAIM FREE TICKETS). In addition to the award, the night will also include the world premiere of "Coach Prime" season two, the hit docuseries from Amazon Prime Video.
Just the seventh coach to receive the honor, Coach Prime joins legendary leaders Pat Summit, Mike Krzyzewski, Don Shula, Dean Smith, and John Wooden as Sportsperson of the Year.
This is the seventh time Coach Prime has been on the cover of Sports Illustrated, the first coming back in 1989 while still at Florida State. Others featured on the cover are CU Chancellor Philip DiStefano, Athletic Director Rick George, 99-year-old superfan Peggy Coppom, Sanders's children Deion Jr., Shedeur, Shelomi, and Shilo, longtime manager and SMAC Entertainment Co-founder/CEO Constance Schwartz-Morini, trusted advisors Ray Forsett and Sam Morini, and a crowd of dedicated Buffs fans.
This is the third time Colorado Football has been featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, along with a photo of Phil Irwin on Oct. 3, 1970, after the Buffs beat Penn State and a photo of "The Catch" featuring Michael Westbrook and his iconic catch at Michigan on Oct. 3, 1994.
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