Colorado hires Deion Sanders to turn around program

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Deion Sanders is taking over as head coach at Colorado, bringing his charisma and larger-than-life persona to a beleaguered Pac-12 program that’s plunged to the bottom of college football.

The deal was announced Saturday by CU athletic director Rick George.

The Pro Football Hall of Famer has been at Jackson State, a historically Black college that plays in the NCAA’s second tier of Division I, since 2020. Sanders has guided the Tigers to consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference titles. The Tigers beat Southern in the SWAC championship game Saturday in Jackson, Mississippi.

A few hours later, Colorado announced he was coming to Boulder. The Tigers went 27-5 in the Sanders era. Colorado is coming off a 1-11 season.

Coastal Carolina hires NC State's Beck to replace Chadwell

CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — Coastal Carolina has hired North Carolina State offensive coordinator Tim Beck to replace Jamey Chadwell as head football coach.

Coastal Carolina's athletic chairman and football executive director announced the move the same day Chadwell was being introduced as the new coach at Liberty. Beck has spent the past 12 seasons as offensive coordinator at Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas and N.C. State.

He said he understands how expectations have increased with Coastal's success the past three seasons and that he will work to keep the program at a high level.

The Chanticleers have reached the AP Top 25 in each of the last three years.