Well, that didn’t take long. Another key piece of Colorado’s coaching staff is heading out the door.
As first reported by 247Sports’ Matt Zenitz, defensive line coach Damione Lewis is leaving Boulder for the same position at Miami—his alma mater. Lewis was a dominant force on Miami’s defensive line back in the day, earning two All-Big East selections before getting picked 12th overall by the St. Louis Rams in 2001.
His lone season at Colorado? Pretty impressive. Under Lewis, the Buffs’ defensive front went from a liability to a legitimate problem for opposing offenses. CU led the Big 12 in sacks (39) and shaved off about 25 rushing yards per game compared to 2023. That’s what you call making an impact.
Of course, Miami isn’t just bringing Lewis home for nostalgia. The Hurricanes are building something serious under Mario Cristobal, fresh off a 10-win season with QB Cam Ward and looking to improve by adding Carson Beck. Their defense already features Hall of Famer Jason Taylor on staff, so adding Lewis only makes them more dangerous in the trenches.
Now the real question: Could Miami try to poach Warren Sapp next?
We all know how much Warren Sapp loves The U. He played there. He dominated there. And he’s never been shy about repping Miami whenever possible.
Last year, reports surfaced that the Hurricanes wanted to bring Sapp on board, but their coaching demands (long hours, recruiting expectations, etc.) weren’t quite what he was looking for. Instead, he took on a more flexible role with Coach Prime in Boulder.
But with Miami aggressively stacking former NFL legends on its coaching staff—Taylor, Lewis, and potentially more—it wouldn’t be surprising if they came calling again.
Would Sapp leave Boulder for South Beach? Hard to say. He’s been all-in with Colorado, and his presence has been a huge recruiting tool for Sanders. But if Miami offers the right role (and the right paycheck), things could get interesting.
This is the second major defensive coaching change for Colorado this offseason. Defensive ends coach Vincent Dancy left for Mississippi State, and now Lewis is heading to Miami. Coach Prime replaced Dancy with George Helow, and you can bet he’s already got a shortlist of names for the D-line job.
Could he promote someone internally? Bring in another former NFL guy? Maybe even (wild card alert) a coach from the HBCU ranks, where Sanders has deep ties?
One thing is certain: Prime moves fast. Expect a hire sooner rather than later.
Losing Lewis stings, no doubt. But Colorado’s coaching turnover isn’t necessarily a bad thing—it’s proof that people are paying attention to what’s happening in Boulder.
Now we wait to see who Coach Prime brings in next. And, of course, whether Miami tries to double down and lure Sapp away, or Coach Prime decides to promote him.
Stay tuned Buffs Nation.