Colorado football DC role a perfect opportunity to break ex-NFL HC into full-time duties

The vacant Colorado football defensive coordinator position, opened up by Charles Kelly's departure to Auburn to serve in the same role, is one that would provide long-time NFL head coach Mike Zimmer the chance to break him back into coaching according to BuffsBeat's Jeff Hauser.

"Zimmer has an NFL background and stated that he wants to return to coaching," Hauser prefaced before saying, "This would be a perfect opportunity to 'break him' back into the full-time duties. One of the biggest questions if he was given the job would be his impact on the recruiting trail. Zimmer, who turns 68 in June, said he has a great relationship with Coach Prime, but that doesn't necessarily translate to wins on the road in living room settings."

Zimmer had recently spoken highly of Coach Prime, who he worked under at Jackson State in 2022; Zimmer's last coaching position.

“Deion and I have a very interesting and unique but great relationship,” said Zimmer (h/t BuffsBeat). “He’s gonna get the guys in there he wants, he's an outstanding recruiter. He's a terrific man who treats his players with the utmost respect. He can discipline them and wants them to be better people than just football players as they move forward." 

Coach Prime's Colorado football coordinators could potentially have experience working together

If Coach Prime goes the Zimmer route, he will be bringing on the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings at the same time newly-named Buffs offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur was calling plays in the Twin Cities. Having familiarity is a recipe for success in football. This would be a logical thing to do.

Of course, Zimmer and Shurmur's experience came in the NFL, not in college. Handling a Coach Prime-recruited locker room will be a much different challenge for the pair if they'll be partners in crime in Boulder.