People always turn their heads when Deion Sanders seems to do something unconventional.
Coach Prime announced he won't fill the open special teams coordinator position for the 2026 season.
Deion Sanders says Colorado will not have a special teams coordinator this season. #CUBuffs
— Harrison Simeon (@harrisonjsimeon) March 6, 2026
Before the 2025 season, Deion promoted Michael Pollock from quality control analyst to special teams coordinator. Pollock had worked with him during his Jackson State days.
He was let go in January following a disappointing 3-9 finish.
Colorado won't have a Special Teams coach in 2026
You might think Coach Prime's decision to go without a dedicated special teams coordinator is unusual, but plenty of Division 1 teams have adopted this strategy.
Ohio State, one of the nation's most prestigious football programs, chose to divide special teams responsibilities among multiple assistants rather than assign one dedicated coach. Head coach Ryan Day had safeties coach Matt Guerrieri and linebackers coach James Laurinaitis handle punt and kickoff duties, while Brian Hartline and tight ends coach Keenan Bailey managed the return game.
Georgia, another powerhouse in the tough SEC, uses specific analysts to design schemes while position coaches oversee drills under head coach Kirby Smart's direction.
Colorado had two field goals and two punts blocked during the 2025 season, exposing protection breakdowns and poor execution.
Special teams hasn't been a strength for Colorado over the past few years, and this decision from Coach Prime will only invite more skepticism and criticism from fans and media until the team proves it works with the only thing that matters: wins.