Colorado Buffaloes Make History With Three Black Coaches Leading Football Program
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Posted By: Will Moss on February 27, 2026 The University of Colorado Buffaloes has achieved a historic milestone in college football, becoming the first major program to simultaneously have a Black head coach, Black defensive coordinator, and Black offensive coordinator leading its football team. The breakthrough came as Deion Sanders, the Pro Football Hall of Famer who previously coached at Jackson State University, prepares for his fourth season at the helm of Colorado's football program. Recent coaching changes saw the promotion of Chris Marve as linebackers coach, joining Sanders and offensive coordinator Brennan Marion to create this unprecedented leadership trio. Historic Achievement: Colorado is the only major college program to have hired at least four non-interim Black head coaches, but this marks the first time the school has had Black offensive and defensive coordinators simultaneously. The move follows the departure of former defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, who accepted an assistant coaching position with the NFL's Denver Broncos. According to contract terms, Livingston owes Colorado $160,000 to break his contract for the professional opportunity. Breaking New Ground in College FootballAccording to research from USA Today Sports, while there are currently 13 Black head coaches in NCAA college football, none besides Colorado have both offensive and defensive coordinators who are also Black. The last time a major program achieved this milestone was in 2012, when Stanford had Black coaches in all three positions under then-head coach David Shaw, with Pep Hamilton as offensive coordinator and Derek Mason as defensive coordinator. Syracuse came close in 2024 with two Black coordinators under head coach Fran Brown. Sanders' impact on the Colorado program has been transformative. Just two years into his initial contract, the university rewarded his success with a five-year, $54 million contract after he turned the struggling football program into a playoff contender. His annual compensation of approximately $10 million places him among the top 10 highest-paid coaches in the nation. The coaching staff also saw another change this week, as Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp resigned from his position as an assistant coach on Sanders' staff. Sanders' journey from leading Jackson State University to transforming a Power Five program has demonstrated the impact of diverse leadership in college football, while this latest milestone represents another step forward in representation at the highest levels of collegiate athletics. Originally reported by Black Enterprise. If you enjoyed this article, Join HBCU CONNECT today for similar content and opportunities via email! |
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Will Moss
Founder & CEO, HBCU CONNECT, LLC Hampton University class of 1995 Member Since June 1999 |
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