Report: Colorado Buffaloes Head Coach Dan Hawkins Fired
by Bob_Bell on Nov 8, 2010 8:56 PM MST
in Buffaloes Football Season
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PrintThe wait is over, time to start anew. Vic Lombardi of Channel 4 news has announced that Dan Hawkins will no longer be the head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. According to Channel 7 news, linebackers coach Brian Cabral will be the interim head coach. Hawkins, once one of the hottest coaching candidates out of Boise State, will leave Boulder with a dismal record and a tenure that will go down in Colorado history as one of the worst ever.
Hawkins went 19-39 as the Colorado head coach without a winning season in his five years at the University. Equally dissapointing was Hawk's Big 12 conference play record going 10-27 since arriving in Boulder. He will be remembered for many things none of which center around winning football games. When he arrived on campus, he was energetic, engaging and had the ability to make you believe he was going to turn things around. Five years later, the coach changed. The fire was gone, the energy a distant memory and when he talked, he failed to make the fans believe he was the right man for the job.
So much to say, so much to reflect on over the past five years. It's sad in a way looking back on five years with little progress to show for.
It was an extremely challenging ride for the fans, for the alumni and for former players who made it well known Hawkins was not in their favor.
As stated above, the Hawkins era began with excitement. He had success as the head coach of the Broncos, going 53 - 11 with two bowl wins. The first spring game under Hawkins saw him take the microphone and get the fans ready for a new era called "Hawk Love." But we learned early under Dan Hawkins that talk is cheap. The first game of his tenure was arguably the worst loss in Colorado football history as FCS school Montana State came into Boulder and beat the Buffs 19-10. CU went on to finish 2-10 under Dan Hawkins in his first year. Most knew going in that 2006 was going to be a struggle after the scandal under Gary Barnett. Fans realized that they had to be patient.
The second year under Dan Hawkins was probably the highlight of his stint at CU. Colorado was able to upset #3 Oklahoma, beat Nebraska and advance to a bowl game against Alabama. Five star RB recruit Darrell Scott committed to Colorado in the offseason headlining a solid recruiting class on paper.
But it was all downhill after that. Ironically, the 2007 season, Hawkins second in Boulder, was the last time the Buffs won on the road losing 17 straight away from Folsom Field. Hawkins was 2-23 on the road overall.
In 2008, after going 3-2 (11-19 in his career at Colorado), Mike Bohn and the University athletic department made a fatal move, extending Dan Hawkins' contract two years from 2010 to 2012. If Hawkins had not been extended in 2008, making a move prior to the end of the 2010-2011 season would have been financially tolerable but with the extension, Dan Hawkins returned for a fifth season as CU head coach.
After being awarded with two additional years, Hawkins and company finished the remaining seven games with only two wins and five defeats, missing post season play.
Hawkins' fourth year was the beginning of the end. Embarrassing opening losses to Colorado State and Toledo put the embattled coach squarely on the hot seat. After the Buffs went 2-6, the gem of Hawkins' recruiting classes, Darrell Scott, decided to leave the program without notice, without a call to the coaching staff. Colorado would go on to win three games in 2009, a final straw in what many thought would be the end of the Dan Hawkins' era. All signs pointed to Hawkins being fired but in what seemed like a last minute change of heart, he was retained. Regardless of what rumor you believe either Colorado's inability to explain a $3 million buyout to the admininstration, whether the University couldn't afford the payout or if Hawk convinced chancellor DiStefano to bring him back for one more year while Mike Bohn was in Hawaii, the fifth year turned into be just as big of a disaster as the previous seasons.
With the exciting move to the Pac-10 occurring in 2011, the Buffs introduced themselves to the west coast with a 52-7 loss to the Cal Bears. Colorado was able to rattle off a couple of solid wins against Hawaii and Georgia but five straight losses in conference play capped off by an embarrassing 35 comeback loss to a two win Kansas team all but sent the fan base over the edge. It was over before that day in Lawrence but that day was the cherry on top, the epitome of the Dan Hawkins era that saw underperformance and a lack of accountability.
Looking back over it all, you just have to shake your head. The easy way to describe it is nothing got better, nothing ever seemed to improve and the same things we were talking about three years ago, we are still talking about today.
The easy part is done, getting rid of a coaching staff that has underperformed greatly over the past five years. The hard part is still ahead. Finding a head coach and just as important, a group of effective assistant coaches and recruiters is now priority number one. If the Buffs want to return to relevance, the athletic department and donors will have to make an investment beyond what was made when they brought Dan Hawkins in.
Former CU running back and current Minnesota Vikings running backs coach Eric Bieniemy and former Colorado head coach Bill McCartney have been rumored as potential candidates to take over for Hawkins, possibly coming back to Boulder together to restore pride in the football program.
Other names floating around include Alabama offensive coordinator Jim McElwain, Auburn offensive coordinator Gus Malzahn and LSU coach Les Miles although it looks unlikely that LSU would part with Miles after last weekend's win over Alabama.
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F@CK YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FINALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by Denver Dave on Nov 8, 2010 9:00 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Anyway...
Congrats guys. I know exactly how I felt when Nebraska got rid of Callahan.
@GochfaceKillah on Twitter
Dammit, from the previous, now irrelevant thread:
This much should be clear:
This is not a positive day for CU football. Whenever a coach is fired, it indicates a series of systemic failures. This is like a funeral. At best, we should just feel relief.
You really should be watching The Benson Interruption. It's funnier than everything that isn't The Benson Interruption
While this is long overdue
I think it’s a plus to get it done now then wait any longer. This gives ample opportunity for recruits to take a new look at us, and allows time to get our coaching candidates in order now that they know there will indeed be vacancy.
AMEN
2010 Rockies: It's... ALIVE!!!!
Intern, Ubaldo Lovers Club
by MileHighMadness on Nov 8, 2010 9:14 PM MST up reply actions
Positive Thoughts
Dan Hawkins is the first of the last 3 coaches not to leave us in crippling NCAA sanctions.
You really should be watching The Benson Interruption. It's funnier than everything that isn't The Benson Interruption
it is like a funeral
but its a funeral when a real SOB died! its a new beginning and a new opportunity, im looking forward to the challenge!
Ridiculous
i agree that he is not the coach we thought he was coming in, or even a sufficient candidate for the job of head coach at the university of colorado… but come on a “sob”…. know the man before you attack him with curses or derogatory language… i am not sad to move on, but show a little class to a man who showed this university a bit of character.
by Denny Majewski on Nov 8, 2010 10:20 PM MST up reply actions
well, to be fair he didn't exactly call Hawkins an SOB
but even if he did I wouldn’t have a problem with it. He’s a public figure, a state employee, he gets paid tons of money, and he’s completely “burned to the ground” a program that a lot of us care about (I’ll use Hawkins’ own quote against him now). Sure, if I saw him walking down the street I wouldn’t run up and hit him in the head with a hammer or something, but he certainly isn’t above a little internet name calling and criticizing.
Also… you consider how he’s behaved the last year or so to be “showing the university a bit of character”? I call it acting like a jackass.
Brian Cabral Love?
Well, the least we can do is give the interim coach a little support. Glad the nightmare is over. I’d also give Hawkins a small amount of credit for keeping grades up and keeping the criminal elements out (for the most part).
Let’s keep the pressure on Bohn to make a good choice; his own abysmal record notwithstanding.
for the most part...
this will always be what people say when they look for positives in the Hawkins era, but I remember plenty of arrests and don’t forget that we’re one of only 2 schools in the country that failed the APR thing (you can blame all the transfers for that but isn’t that his fault too?) He gets a C+ from me for “running a clean program”. No more than that.
I'm relieved
Let’s start moving forward Buffs!
by CleBUFFS on Nov 8, 2010 9:21 PM MST via mobile reply actions
THANK YOU SWEET BABY JESUS
"C-O-L-O-R-A-D-O"
"No Rebounds, No Rings"
"Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out"
-John Wooden
Good write-up
…it’s almost like you had it on file waiting for the hammer to fall. Like people who pre-write their obituaries. I really hope they make a good choice and we aren’t sitting here in frustration in another 5 years.
i've had it tee'd up for a year now
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Nice work, Bob
Even if you’ve had umpteen rehearsal’s ;-)
You managed to cover all of the bases and emotions for true Buff’s fans. Relief, most of all. Disappointment and frustration at the complete lack of progress over 5 years leaving us with yet another rebuilding job. What a WASTE! There is some sadness too as, at least early on, I was hoping Hawkins would be successful. But in the end it was all talk no substance. At least now I can attend these last two home games with a clear conscience (season tix are already paid for). Finally hope for the future and brighter days ahead for the Colorado Buffaloes! GO BUFFS!
Very Important
It is done, the reign of terror is over and CU will be judged on what they do from here… No more Hawk to blame it on.
I think it is all of our hopes that this is not a low-buck decision and a good comprehensive look needs to be taken while also being mindful that recruiting must go on in order for us to return to excellence, the right steps need to be taken now.
Bohn needs help because none of his coaching hires have been successful yet and hopefully his job will be hung on this hire.
Congrats Buffs...
Go out there and get yourself a great coach. Good Luck!
"Go on! Shoot me again! I enjoy it! I love the smell of burnt feathers and gunpowder and cordite!"
HA
Im sitting in the library also. Would have been awesome to hear it over the speakers. Everyone in here seems to be in a great mood now.
Let's hope a new day
is dawning and we can have a program worthy of this great state!
Free at last!
Turn this boat around.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
I used to be normal until I met these losers I now call my friends.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
IT'S OVERRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Yes, I actually do like cricket. I'm Indian.
Rockies are actually zombies. And they're coming to hunt you down just when you think they're buried.
Hollidayrain Music
Glory Halleluja!
Hope Cabral can stir the boys in Boulder for the last 3 games.
Overheard during Nuggets radio broadcasts in the 80's: "....Hanzlik.....HEY HANZLIK...don't ever dribble the ball again or I'll bench your ass!" Doug Moe
DenverStiffs.com
My first reaction is to celebrate
but Phil is right, this is just the culmination of a massive failure by our athletic depart. However, it is a great relief that we can finally turn the page on the disastrous Dan Hawkins era and move into the Pac-12 with a new staff that will hopefully restore this program to what is once was.
premature
Look, I’m as happy as anyone that we’ve stopped the bleeding. But that doesn’t mean we’ve turned anything around—just that we’ve stopped digging deeper.
CU needs to take a serious look at how we are going to turn this around and insure that we are moving in the right direction. They need to figure out how they made this mistake, and how to avoid it in the future. I never thought I’d say this…but while we don’t need a coach who will circle Husker week anymore, we still need a guy who wants to be a Buff more than he wants to be any D1 head-coach.
Ignorance of the American League is a sign of good moral character.
I used to be normal until I met these losers I now call my friends.
"Cheap tacos are rightous!"-My Daughter
Your future Pac-12 brethern approve handily
--Dave
Addicted to Quack, your friendly, neighborhood Oregon Ducks blog
by David Piper on Nov 8, 2010 10:03 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Its great that they made this decision now.
Now we go into the offseason with hope. Now we just have to figure out what to do about the 6 multi-year contracts and Hawkins deferred money. I really hope it doesn’t scare them off from hiring a recognized coach and enable him to fill out his staff.
what is the situation that you're talking about with the 6 contracts and deferred money?
We get 6 for the entire athletic department, right? Only two are availiable for the FB team. It would be ridiculously cheap and short-sided to keep Kiseau because of his multi-year deal. He’s not at all worth keeping and the multi-year deal can hopefully be used to bring in a good coordinator.
Correct, sorry got that mixed up.
Yeah it sounds like they’ll clean house. I hope they don’t go the Broncos route and hire a cheap coach because of the money owed to other coaches.
Good riddance. Go away loser. Please don’t hang around Boulder or the program. Let’s just forget you ever came thru town.
Josh McDaniels took an average team and made it one of the worst in the NFL. We are a team without heart, soul or brains. We are not improving. This squad is the opposite of the team McDaniels promised and that is exclusively the fault of Josh McDaniels (not Shanahan, injuries, bad refs or meanie fans).
LSU guy and very happy for y'all--it was more than time and...
when I saw some of those rumors yesterday about him (Hawkins) staying, it did not make any sense to me/y’all had to freaking out for sure. I have been in the loyal Miles camp all along—he wins, recruits well, is a nice guy/crazy in a good way—and I hope we keep him for a long, long time, but I have to rec this because even though you want him as your coach which I do not want to happen, I can’t remember seeing/hearing anyone outside of LSU post/say that they wanted Miles as their coach since Michigan and we have had a lot of negativity around here also.
Also, the rumors the last few days that I have seen, took me by surprise again because I have not seen interest in Miles since Michigan. Whatever happens, I really enjoyed watching the Buffs under BM with the triple option back in the day and hope y’all get it going in the right direction (without Miles I hope). Good luck.
"...When I get to Brownsville I'm going to sit down in the middle of the street, and that will be the end of the line...I'm going to Brownsville exactly because I've got no reason to go there. Anybody ask me why Brownsville—there's no f****** answer...Brownsville. I picture a little booth at the edge of town with a bored-looking women sitting on it...You walk down Main Street...You walk into the Saloon, which is cool and dark and order a Bourbon..."
Tom Piazza from his short story "Brownsville"
YES YES! YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am finally smiling about CU football. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out dips*it.
HAWKINS MUST GO!!!!!!!!
by Gr3yStreet on Nov 8, 2010 11:02 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
First good decision Mike Bohn has made.
I would like to see him fired next. Nevertheless, great great day for CU football.
by Rainbow skyline on Nov 9, 2010 12:18 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
the real work begins now
we can all agree step one has been taken. now we nee to make a real important decision. i know there is some sentiment to bringing back coach mac. while i somewhat understand that desire, we need someone new. if we hire mac, i feel like we could easily end up like k-state is now- what would be a bottom tier team in pac12. I would love mac or ceal berry has an AD. we need to be realistic and understand Les Miles is off the table, maybe Richt if he gets canned would be a nice choice. Also the rumors of Belotti are intriguing, I actually might like him more as AD. Realistically I’d like Bienemy. He has strong CU ties and can recruit the west coast given his time at UCLA. Only downside is it would be his first headcoaching job. Anyway thats my $0.02, I know we all have our opinions and wishlists so thats mine.
Here’s to turning this ship around – GO BUFFS!
-evan ’02
bieniemy
I still can’t figure out why people are clamoring for him to be our next head coach. I mean what has he done? Allegedly peed and/or chocked a female parking attendant, gotten a DUI and coached running backs? While I enjoyed him during his playing days here, there is nothing that says, ‘head coaching material’ on him. Think you can sell that record to our administration? Hell why not just get Salaam in here to coach if being a great former player is the criteria we are using.
IMO, if the program was ‘burned to the ground’ as Hawkins says he found it, the reputation of the program has been salted on his departure. We need a can’t miss.
agreed
and he seems soft as a grape to me
can’t see him as a hardass
by The Notorious R.O.B. on Nov 9, 2010 9:06 AM MST up reply actions
Like K-State is now?
Are you serious? The Buff fans I know would KILL to be “like K-State is now” and Colorado is a LONG way from that. Also, Coach Snyder had a HUGE mess to clean up, and he’s doing it quite nicely.
“Like K-State is now”? Sheesh!
"Coaching a football team is the most engrossing thing in the world. It is playing chess with human pawns." --Walter Camp
by K. Scott Bailey on Nov 9, 2010 11:01 AM MST up reply actions
Let the healing begin
Like others have said here let’s not forget how far we’ve fallen and how much work is ahead. In the end there is a whole generation of fans and students CU’s proud tradition has skipped. The thing is redemption is real and it’s out there for us now. Go Buffs
twitter.com/skitalicious
Quitter's People United Member #13
by runningdonut on Nov 9, 2010 1:50 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
Congrats, Buff fans.
As a Wildcat fan, I can relate to your coaching situation. We had to suffer through the John Mackovic era at Arizona.
With the firing of an ineffective football coach, the brass at Colorado have sent a message to their Pac-12 brethren that they really are committed to football excellence, and are actively pursuing it.
As for who your next coach will be, you may be surprised. Nobody thought that Arizona could land coach Stoops, especially coming off of a national championship. But sometimes, a coach will like the idea of building a team from the ground up, the way they think it should be built.
I have a feeling the future holds great things for Colorado Buffalo football. I look forward to talking football with a bunch of you when Arizona travels to play the Buffs.
Patrick Evans (uofafanatic)
by uofafanatic on Nov 9, 2010 5:38 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
thanks for the kind words
see you guys in Boulder next year, hopefully we’ll be able to give you a good game.
So relieved...
And I disagree… it is a VERY positive day for CU football. It’s painfully obvious how bad our program is today, just look at the record the past five years. We’ve all been expecting him to be fired since last year, we all knew this was coming, it wasn’t like we were expecting him to turn things around this year and that we’d all support him. He’s been a goner and Buff fans have been ready to move on.
It’s a positive step moving forward, regardless of timing. When I heard the news, I felt this rush of excitement, now I’m thinking about canceling all weekend plans to make it to the last two games. Maybe even a road trip to Lincoln? Even if we lose, we can still smile.
by The Notorious R.O.B. on Nov 9, 2010 7:29 AM MST reply actions
Clarification
We get 6 long term contracts for the University, not the athletic department. I think a couple of them are reserved for the president and chancellor.
really? are you sure about that?
I’m pretty sure Hawkins, Kiesau, Boyle, Kritza, Lappe and Bohn all have multi year deals.
Good luck Hawk
You always said the right thing, never embarrassed us off the field, and you sure as hell look like a head coach. I felt bad ripping you every week, so this is for the best.
Hope you succeed at your next job.
Return to Dominance
Congrats
Here’s to all the Buff fans and especially my CU friends in which no amount of alcohol has made them feel better over the past couple of weeks. As a NU fan I have felt you pain with what we went through in the Callahan years and know how excited you must feel. There truly is light at the end of the tunnel. Good luck in the Pac 12.
Thanks, bud!
and Good Luck in the Big Ten.
…and I hope we find some miraculous way to beat y’all. You know, for old time’s sake.
GO Buffs, thank god it's over
I would love to see MAC back and Bieniemy as OC and HC in waiting. Bring the glory back, and coach Hawk, I know some good real estate agents.
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
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"It happens sometimes. People just explode. Natural causes." - Agent Rogersz from Repoman
Wish you guys luck
Glad to see the Hawk era go, was a bit surprised he didn’t succeed. He seemed like a great hire 5 years ago. Now for the search of a new coach, I really hope CU goes in the right dirrection and lands a can’t miss. I don’t think they need to find a coach to win them a championship in the matter of a few years, but a coach to rebrand and rebuild the program as it moves on to the pac-12.
Bellotti is a can’t miss, especially if Cal cans Tedford and they can work together once again. Thats a clear cut number one choice if that’s the case. Bellotti likes ESPN, but he was kind of pushed aside for Kelly to coach the Ducks. He and Tedford were great freinds and had great chemistry together.
Mark Stoops…. it’s his time to get a head coaching job, and you really can’t go wrong with a Stoops. Plus he has ties with Arizona and FSU so he can grab some top notch assistants to come with him.
Malzahn is a gamble, His playbook has always revolved around one stud. I don’t think CU will bring in any Cam Newton’s anytime soon. I’d say go with a pro-style/west-coast offense kind of a guy. Use your cold weather as an advantage.
Thanks for the well-wishes!
But correct me if I’m wrong; isn’t the running game best suited for cold-weather play?
…ps, it’s not actually all that cold in Boulder for football. (much colder on the plains than in Boulder Valley).
Running game is a must.
Pro-style is running straight ahead. West-coast offense with zone blocking schemes and short passes works. Im sure the LA and ‘Zona schools will think it’s cold as all hell in november/december. Especially if you get a conference championship game at home.
Isn’t there a chance of snow tonight in Boulder?
Snow? Probably
I’m actually in TX, but Boulder’s weather is screwy anyway… it’ll snow and then warm back up to 50’s or 60’s and all melt away; and then do it all again. In 5 falls at CU we only had one proper snow [home] game. It’s not like Chicago or the East Coast where it gets cold and stays cold for a month at a time.
That said, SoCal and ‘Zona kids probably will think it’s chilly.
I think I mixed my terms
When I read WCO, I think horizontal passing to establish longer run/pass gains.
How About Leach
I am a big Texas Tech fan and was sorry to see Mike Leach go. How about Leach as head coach at Colorado? Just curious to see how the Buff fans would feel about that hire.
The nature of his departure from Tech
Would almost certainly preclude him from being mentioned. CU needs bad press like we needed to keep Hawkins for 3 more games.
That said, I don’t know how his personality played off to boosters and the admin there. I think we need someone who’s good in that arena, as well.
CUBuffs.com
I’m currently watching the press conference and the Cody interview. He is handling this very well. Say what you want about his dad, but hes a good kid, and very classy.
Glad to see the turn-around start
Don’t expect to be 12-0 next year, though, or even a bowl team, necessarily. While I’m a Bruin, I live around Jayhawks. (No, I’m not going to mention Saturday’s game – I’m really not a Jayhawk fan, I just live here.) I think KU’s gone the right direction with their new coach, but just like with any new coach, a new system takes time to implement, it takes time to teach to the current players, and it takes time to recruit players to fit. KU’s going to see that for the next couple of years. UCLA’s certainly seen it with Neuheisel, whatever you think of him – the coach prior to him is so despised on Bruins Nation that he usually isn’t referred to by name.
Enjoy the relief, and good luck on becoming the second-place team in the Pac-12 South!
Roses are red, violets are blue...f*** $C.
I was really hoping you guys would get Mike Shanahan
But that ship has sailed. Why not Will Muschamp? Art Briles?
Muschamp
demonstrated this year that he could not stop a mediocre PAC 10 offense. Really, not really, no really?
It would be worth an inquiry but I don’t think he would be interested. Also given the move to the PAC 12 I think the University is going to want to hire a proven head coach.
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