Tag: Mike Sanford

Mike Sanford takes coaching job at Mead High School

Former #cubuffs interim head coach Mike Sanford is helping out @MeadAthletics this fall as an assistant coach

In the past 10 months, the Colorado Buffaloes fired Karl Dorrell after an 0-5 start and named offensive coordinator Mike Sanford as the interim head coach. After the season, they hired Deion Sanders, and suddenly the Buffs program has caught plenty of eyeballs with the 2023 season just around the corner.

However, how Sanford carried himself during his time leading the Buffs shouldn’t go discredited. After being let go following Coach Prime’s staff overhaul, Sanford is now an assistant coach at Mead High School, as reported by 9News Sports Denver.

Asked about what the job means to him, Sanford gave a humble response:

“At the end of the day, if you’re doing it for the right reasons, you’re in it for the betterment of the people you have a chance to coach. It’s a privilege. It’s an honor. It’s something I don’t take lightly.”

Sanford joined Dorrell’s staff prior to the 2022 season and was the team’s offensive coordinator, so that was his only year in Boulder and his season included taking over a winless team and finding a way to beat Cal.

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Mike Sanford proud of CU Buffs’ fight throughout rough stretch

Mike Sanford was exactly what Colorado needed at a difficult time

Colorado football’s season came to an end on Saturday with a 63-21 home loss against Utah, dropping the Buffs to 1-11.

Following the loss, interim head coach Mike Sanford became emotional during his postgame press conference when he spoke about how committed the Buffs were despite the season’s struggles.

Saturday was likely Sanford’s last game leading Colorado and even though the results during his tenure weren’t great, he did lead the Buffs to their sole win of 2022. It was especially encouraging to see how he was able to keep heads held high.

It wouldn’t be surprising if Sanford gets a full-time head coaching job somewhere in the near future.

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Some Buffs want Colorado to keep coaching staff intact

Some Buffs players would like to see the current coaching staff remain intact

One voice that seems to be overlooked during a head coaching search is that of the players — at least from an outside perspective. While student-athletes only have a few years of eligibility, they are the ones most impacted by the decision made.

At the University of Colorado, athletic director Rick George and his search committee are currently looking for the Buffs’ next head football coach, somebody who will likely bring in fresh assistants.

But if you ask a handful of CU players, they’d like to see current members of the staff retained in hopes of having more time to learn their concepts. Freshman linebacker Devin Grant shared this sentiment on Twitter and he was retweeted by Simeon Harris, Casey Roddick, Ben Finneseth, Tommy Brown and Trent Carrizosa. Jeremy Mack, Trey Ortega and Charlie Offerdahl also liked the tweet.

It’s unlikely that Grant’s wish will come true, but interim head coach Mike Sanford and his coordinators Clay Patterson and Gerald Chatman have performed mostly well in the aftermath of Karl Dorrell leaving.

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Put in difficult position, Mike Sanford has been an admirable interim

Mike Sanford might not become the Buffs’ next full-time head coach, but he should get a long look across the country.

The Colorado Buffaloes are playing their final game of the 2022 season on Saturday against Utah. This dismal one-win season will go down as one of the worst in Buffs’ history.

Karl Dorrell was dismissed after an 0-5 start, and Mike Sanford was named the interim head coach in only his first season in Boulder. To Sanford’s credit, he had handled the difficult situation admirably.

Although with CU expected to name its next head coach soon, it remains unlikely that Sanford gets the job. But, as Adam Munsterteiger points out, Sanford’s performance as an interim makes him a strong candidate to become a head coach elsewhere (if he’s not retained by Colorado’s next head coach).

The Buffs had zero wins when Sanford stepped in. At the same time, they had played JT Shrout, Owen McCown and Brendon Lewis, who entered the transfer portal, in a revolving door at the QB position.

On top of that, they lost a number of players via the transfer portal at the end of the 2021 season, so a down season was already expected.

If athletic director Rick George hires a new coach that isn’t Sanford, he could be out of a job just one year into his tenure at Boulder. Nonetheless, Sanford’s name could pop up for some of the other openings.

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CU Buffs interim head coach Mike Sanford doing best to stay present

Mike Sanford opened up about how he’s dealing with an uncertain future

After the Colorado Buffaloes dismissed Karl Dorrell as head coach following an 0-5 start, offensive coordinator Mike Sanford stepped in with the interim label. He won his first game but has lost every one since.

Sanford is new to Boulder and signed a three-year contract prior to the season. He just moved his family to Colorado from Minnesota and now with a new head coach coming in soon, Sanford could very well be out of a job as well.

Despite the uncertainty, he is just enjoying his time (h/t Brian Howell of Buff Zone).

“We’re living in the present, we’re making everything about the players.”

It isn’t easy, either.

“(Staying in the present) is really hard because we have wives, we have kids. They’re scared about the future and we have to be great fathers and great husbands first and foremost. But we also have a job that we’re tasked with doing and that’s ultimately to come to work every day, just continue to find the joy in the work we do.”

It isn’t just the coaching staff. The players aren’t sure what their futures hold, and there could be another big wave of Buffs transferring out depending on what happens in the next few weeks.

Mel Tucker was hired in 2018, Dorrell in 2020, and now another head coach will step in. The uncertainty is there, but Sanford is enjoying his time with the headset.

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Notable quotes from Mike Sanford, players following CU Buffs’ loss to Oregon

Here’s what was said following Colorado’s loss to Oregon:

No amount of planning could’ve fully prepared Colorado for how versatile No. 8 Oregon’s offense was on Saturday.

In recent weeks, it has seemed like the Buffs’ defense was either tasked with limiting a strong rushing attack or a strong group of receivers — Oregon had both. So despite Colorado’s offense totaling a season-high 367 yards, Bo Nix and the Ducks left Folsom Field with a 49-10 win.

After the game, interim head coach Mike Sanford was joined by linebacker Josh Chandler-Semedo and running back Alex Fontenot, who made his long-awaited return from injury, in the postgame press conference.

Below are a few snippets of what was said:

Mike Sanford’s thoughts following Colorado’s loss to Oregon State

Mike Sanford remained positive following the Buffs’ loss

The Colorado Buffaloes football team couldn’t win a second straight game. Interim head coach Mike Sanford kicked things off in style with an overtime victory against Cal the week before.

Unfortunately, the Buffs had no chance against Oregon State in an ugly 42-9 loss in Corvallis. 

After the game, Sanford had plenty to say, and most of it was encouraging. Could he be the future head coach for the Buffs? There hasn’t been any movement on that front, although it’s worth noting that Colorado hired a search firm, signaling that a wide search might be coming soon.

Here are some notable comments from Sanford following his first loss as the Buffs’ head coach:

After encouraging start, should Mike Sanford be considered for full-time job?

It’s only been one game but has Mike Sanford worked himself into the running?

Things have just felt different at Colorado ever since interim head coach Mike Sanford took over for the excused Karl Dorrell.

Much like a heart defibrillator, Sanford’s energy has shocked the out-of-rhythm Buffaloes into a newfound gear. It was exactly what the team needed and his impact was obvious in Saturday’s 20-13 win over Cal. The Buffs waved rally towels on the sidelines, raced to the other end of the field during quarter changes and brought new life into Folsom Field.

Now, it’s only been two weeks and a home win over Cal isn’t exactly monumental, but something in my gut just tells me that Sanford is worth considering for the full-time head job.

To play devil’s advocate against my opinion, his resume doesn’t exactly scream Power Five head coach, and his two years leading Western Kentucky weren’t great. I’m also not sure if he’d be able to assemble a much better staff than what’s already in place. A complete overhaul may remain the best option for Colorado with plenty of other great candidates available.

Still, I hope the Buffs are able to keep Sanford around for next season in some capacity — preferably on the sidelines during games.

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Mike Sanford: ‘This is all for the players and all about the players’

Saturday’s win was a well-deserved reward for the Buffs

Mike Sanford seems to get it.

While he’s likely not in the running to become Colorado’s next full-time head coach, the Buffs interim leader has done everything right during his first two weeks on the job.

About two weeks ago, Sanford inherited a winless football team that had just seen its head coach, Karl Dorrell, fired. But instead of giving up on 2022, the Buffs have approached Sanford’s entrance as a reset. The slate has been wiped clean and there’s a new energy in Boulder.

On Saturday, CU’s new mindset culminated in a well-deserved 20-13 overtime win against the Cal Bears. With everything these players have gone through recently, it was great to finally see some smiles.

This is all for the players and all about the players. This is all about their response, their resolve. All of that stuff that I said here 10 days ago, everyone thought that I was crazy. We talked about how unbelievable of a group of resilient fighters that we have in our locker room. I think everybody had a chance to see that on full display today. I’m really just proud of our players. I told them after the game, that’s a great moment. It’s a moment we’re going to celebrate, but we talked about a fresh season, a new season. What I told them is that the best part about being 1-0, which we are in our new season post-bye week, is that you have a chance to be 2-0 and that’s where our attention turns 24 hours from now.

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Mike Sanford gives encouraging update on Deion Smith’s injury

Thankfully, Mike Sanford gave an encouraging update on Deion Smith

Early in the fourth quarter, Colorado Buffaloes running back Deion Smith suffered a scary injury when soon after receiving a pass, he took a big hit from a Cal defender. Smith was subsequently carted off the field and did not return to the game.

Interim head coach Mike Sanford was asked about Smith’s condition postgame, and he thankfully revealed that CU’s lead RB is back standing up and walking again. Sanford added that he was proud of his Buffs for how they supported their fallen teammate during a difficult moment.

“That was a moment I’ll never forget in my coaching career, just the brotherhood that was shown through that moment,” Sanford said.

Smith took to Twitter following the game to thank everyone for the support and to congratulate his Buffs on the 20-13 overtime win.

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