Colorado University Athletics
Hawkins Announces Coaching Staff
BOULDER ? University of Colorado head football coach Dan Hawkins has completed his first coaching staff, officially announcing the group Thursday.
Hawkins, named Colorado’s 23rd football coach in its history on December 16 after compiling a 53-11 record in five seasons at Boise State, has assembled a staff with 68 seasons of Division I-A experience, collectively coaching in 852 games, including 45 bowls.
The nine assistants are comprised of four former members from his staff at Boise State, two from Pacific-10 Conference school staffs, a veteran college and National Football League coach, and two holdovers with extreme CU ties from former coach Gary Barnett's staff.
The two retained coaches are also former Buffalo players. Brian Cabral, a star linebacker in the 1970s, will coach the linebackers for his 17th season this fall, and Darian Hagan, the former all-Big Eight quarterback and 1990 national champion team quarterback who is in his second season as a collegiate coach. Cabral was Barnett’s assistant head coach, but under Hawkins, he has assumed the duties of recruiting coordinator. Hagan was an offensive assistant last year, working mainly with the receivers, but will shift to running backs coach.
The four coaches accompanying Hawkins from Boise State were all members of his staff all five of his seasons as head coach. The group includes Ron Collins, who will continue in the role of defensive coordinator for Hawkins; Chris Strausser, who maintains his duties as offensive line coach and assistant head coach; Romeo Bandison, continuing in the capacity as defensive line coach; and Kent Riddle, who will coach the tight ends and coordinate special teams at Colorado, the first Buff assistant with the latter designation since 1998. He coached special teams and the running backs at Boise State, and at Colorado, will coordinate all special team units, with help from several of the other assistants.
Collins will oversee all phases of the defense but will not coach a particular position, as he did (linebackers) at Boise State, instead working with all across the board.
Hawkins raided the staffs of offensive powerhouses Arizona State and California to coordinate CU’s offense and passing game. Mark Helfrich, the quarterbacks coach at ASU since 2001 and the Sun Devils’ passing game coordinator the last three seasons for coach Dirk Koetter, will be CU’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. At age 32, he is the fifth youngest offensive coordinator in the country; in his five years at ASU, Sun Devil quarterbacks passed for almost 19,000 yards. Eric Kiesau, Cal’s wide receivers coach since 2002, will coach the receivers at Colorado. He was integral in developing the Bears passing game as Cal emerged as one of the top programs in the Pac-10.
The ninth and final hire is making his second tour of duty as a CU assistant, as veteran NFL assistant Greg Brown returns to Boulder, where he coached between 1991-93 and tutored Colorado’s pair of Jim Thorpe Award winners, Deon Figures and Chris Hudson. Brown coached in 241 NFL games with six different teams over his 15-year professional career.
“I feel fortunate that we were able to put together what I would call a home run staff,” Hawkins said. “It’s a good combination of people who have been doing things consistently well over a period of time. What I am really excited about is the chemistry I think we’re going to have on both sides of the ball, and all the different angles that will contribute to the final product.
“Defensively, Colorado was very good last year,” he continued. “Looking at what our guys have done at Boise, always having been one of the top ranked rushing defenses, and that being a strength at Colorado, we can continue to build on that.
“I’m not a big stats guy, but if you do look statistically over the course of the last five years, on offense, we have the elements of three very explosive offenses in Arizona State, California and Boise State. I think it’s a great mix on the offensive side of the ball.
“Plus, there’s NFL experience, and with two former Buffs and Greg Brown, those provide ties to the Coach (Bill) McCartney era, which I think is important,” Hawkins concluded. “We’re moving forward, but always appreciate the past.”
In addition, the defensive graduate assistant position has been filled, as former Boise State linebacker Andy Avalos has been added to the staff. He was a two-time first-team all-Western Athletic Conference performer for the Broncos. The offensive graduate assistant is the only position left to be filled, as Hawkins has retained Mike Babcock and Donnell Leomiti, respectively, as the offensive and defensive technical interns.
All the coaches have been participating in recruiting activities, and the university has approved and completed the hiring process. National letter-of-intent day is less than two weeks away, as high school seniors can sign with colleges beginning February 1.
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