Tucker Takes over Buffs Football
Mel Tucker was named CU鈥檚 26th head football coach in December, succeeding Mike MacIntyre, who was let go after delivering a 14-39 Pac-12 record over six seasons.
Tucker, 47, a former University of Georgia defensive coordinator and secondary coach, signed a five-year, $14.75 million contract.
Nick Saban, the Alabama and six-time national champion coach, hired Tucker three times and calls him 鈥渙ne of the brightest coaches in our profession.鈥� A University of Wisconsin alum, Tucker has coached for six universities and three NFL teams.
A new priority at CU will be adding bigger, stronger players, he said: 鈥淲e need to be stout in the trenches. We have to be able to move people.鈥� Tucker will lead the Buffs onto the field for the first time April 27, for the annual spring game.
鈥淐olorado should be a 鈥榥o excuse鈥� program,鈥� he said.
Buffs Bits
- Kennedy Leonard (Comm鈥�19) delivered her 613th career assist Dec. 30, becoming CU women鈥檚 basketball鈥檚 all-time assists leader.
听 - Phillip Lindsay (Comm鈥�18) became the first undrafted rookie named to the NFL Pro Bowl, before a wrist injury ended his season with one game left.
听 - Fresh off a three-year, $34 million extension with the Brooklyn Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie (Comm ex鈥�15) will wear 82 different pairs of custom sneakers this season and auction off each worn pair for charity.
听 - CU Sports Information Director David Plati (Jour鈥�82) received the Football Writers Association of America鈥檚 Lifetime Achievement Award. He鈥檚 in his 35th year as the Buffs鈥� SID.
听 - The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame named runner Dani Jones (Psych鈥�19) collegiate athlete of the year.
听 - David Bakhtiari (Comm ex鈥�13) of the Green Bay Packers was named All Pro left tackle for the 2018 NFL season, recognizing him as the best at his position.
听 - CU women鈥檚 hurdlers took six of the top seven spots in one 60-meter race in January, including the top three.
