In a move that feels like a perfect fit, former Colorado Buffaloes offensive coordinator and interim head coach Mike Sanford has been named the head football coach at Valor Christian High School in Highlands Ranch.
If you're a Buffs fan, you probably remember Sanford as the guy who stepped up in 2022 when CU was at rock bottom and gave us the one bright spot of that season—an emotional, hard-fought overtime win against Cal. Now, he's taking his passion and leadership to one of the top high school programs in the state, and honestly, I couldn’t be happier about it.
Sanford’s coaching journey has taken him all over the country. From running offenses at Boise State, Notre Dame, Utah State, and Minnesota to leading Western Kentucky as a head coach, he’s seen it all. When Karl Dorrell got the boot in Boulder, Sanford stepped in and gave the Buffs some much-needed energy, even if the results didn’t always follow. Despite the uphill battle he faced, you could tell the guy cared about the team, the program, and the players.
After Coach Prime took over and cleaned house, Sanford stayed connected to the Colorado football scene, most notably as a host on Altitude Sports Radio. But coaching is in his DNA—his father, Mike Sanford Sr., was a longtime coach himself—and it was only a matter of time before he found his next gig. Now, he’s landed at Valor Christian, a powerhouse in Colorado high school football that has produced stars like Christian McCaffrey.
And let’s be real—Valor Christian is getting an absolute gem in Sanford. Not only does he bring decades of experience at the college level, but he also deeply understands the importance of culture. This isn’t just about X’s and O’s for him; it’s about developing young men, and that aligns perfectly with Valor’s mission as a Christian institution.
Sanford himself spoke about his excitement for the opportunity, recalling how he first visited Valor in 2012 while recruiting McCaffrey at Stanford. He’s been around the program for years, and now he gets to lead it.
For me, this hire is a no-brainer. Colorado high school football just got a whole lot more interesting, and it wouldn’t surprise me at all if Sanford turns Valor Christian into an even bigger force than it already is.
Whether you're a Buffs fan, a Valor supporter, or just someone who appreciates good coaching, you have to love this move.