BOULDER — Just three days ago, Darian Hagan had no idea how the University of Colorado was going to fill the vacancy on its football coaching staff.
Hagan, 46, hadn’t even spoken to head coach Mike MacIntyre about his plans for the position.
Then on Friday, Hagan was invited into MacIntyre’s office for an impromptu meeting. He left the office as the Buffaloes’ new running backs coach. CU made the official announcement Saturday.
“He pulled me aside and brought me in his office and told me some good things,” said Hagan, who was CU’s director of player development the past three years. “He said he’s been watching me, watching how I prepare and how I work and my passion and all of that stuff, and he thought it was the best fit.”
MacIntyre has moved a few parts to try to find the best fit for the Buffs, who were 4-9 overall and 1-8 in the Pac-12 last season.
In addition to Hagan, the Buffs announced that Klayton Adams, who has coached running backs and tight ends the past three years, will be their new offensive line coach; and Gary Bernardi, who has coached the offensive line, will now coach tight ends and fullbacks.
Previously this offseason, the Buffs lost wide receivers coach Troy Walters and replaced him with Darrin Chiaverini, who also is the co-offensive coordinator; they fired strength and conditioning coach Dave Forman and replaced him with Drew Wilson; and they lost special-teams coordinator Toby Neinas, who resigned in December. Hagan’s hiring replaces Neinas.
Hagan, a former Heisman Trophy contender who quarterbacked the Buffs to their only national title in 1990, could not be more excited to get back on the field. He was an assistant coach for CU from 2005-10 before moving into administration in 2011.
