The Zeitgeist List · coaching

Colorado: a football coaching history

Regional Program II#94 of 138–
See Colorado’s full 91-year Zeitgeist History →
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Program GOAT
Rick Neuheisel
0 Dynasty · 3 Blue-Blood seasons
Built by
Bill McCartney
National Program II → Blue Blood (+29.6)
The fall
Chuck Fairbanks
Power Program III → National Program II (−16.8)
Right now
Deion Sanders
the 15th-best of Colorado's 15 coaches so far

Stature & coaches, 1936–2026

The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.

program stature (★ = Dynasty-tier season)PottsYeagerWardCrowderMalloryMcCartneyBarnettHawkinsMacIntyre19401960198020002020

Every coach

2023–now
Deion Sanderscaretaker
Deion Sanders held Colorado at Regional Program III for 4 seasons.
Regional Program III
16–21
2022–2022
Mike Sanford Jr.short tenure
1–6
2020–2022
Karl Dorrellcaretaker
Karl Dorrell held Colorado at Regional Program II for 3 seasons.
Regional Program II
8–15
2019–2019
Mel Tuckershort tenure
5–7
2018–2018
Kurt Ropershort tenure
0–1
2013–2018
Mike MacIntyrecaretaker
Mike MacIntyre held Colorado at Regional Program I for 6 seasons.
Regional Program I
30–44
2011–2012
Jon Embreeshort tenure
4–21
2006–2010
Dan Hawkinscaretaker
Dan Hawkins slid Colorado from Power Program II to Power Program III in 5 seasons.
−11.1
19–39
1999–2005
Gary Barnettinheritor
Gary Barnett inherited a Power Program I Colorado and won with it.
−8.3
49–38
1995–1998
Rick Neuheiselinheritor
Rick Neuheisel inherited a Blue Blood Colorado and won with it.
Blue Blood
33–14
1982–1994
Bill McCartneytransformer
Bill McCartney took Colorado from National Program II to Blue Blood.
+29.6
93–55
1979–1981
Chuck Fairbanksdecliner
Colorado fell from Power Program III to National Program II under Chuck Fairbanks.
−16.8
7–26
1974–1978
Bill Mallorycaretaker
Bill Mallory held Colorado at Power Program II for 5 seasons.
Power Program II
35–21
1963–1973
Eddie Crowderbuilder
Eddie Crowder raised Colorado from National Program II to Power Program II.
+15.5
67–49
1962–1962
Bud Davisshort tenure
2–8
1959–1961
Everett Grandeliuscaretaker
Everett Grandelius slid Colorado from Power Program III to National Program I in 3 seasons.
National Program I
20–11
1948–1958
Dallas Wardcaretaker
Dallas Ward moved Colorado from National Program II to Power Program III in 11 seasons.
+10.3
63–41
1941–1947
Jim Yeagercaretaker
Jim Yeager slid Colorado from Power Program III to National Program I in 5 seasons.
−8.9
24–17
1940–1945
Frank Pottscaretaker
Frank Potts held Colorado at Power Program III for 3 seasons.
Power Program III
16–8
1936–1939
Bunny Oakescaretaker
Bunny Oakes held Colorado at Power Program III for 4 seasons.
Power Program III
20–11