Colorado Buffaloes hire Ross Els as defensive assistant

The Colorado Buffaloes have hired a new defensive assistant coach to replace the vacancy left by Joe Tumpkin.

Ross Els becomes the ninth coach on Coach Mike MacIntyre’s staff, after leaving Purdue where he served as defensive coordinator last season. The journeyman coach brings an experienced background to Boulder that started at Northern Iowa in 1989. Prior to the year in Purdue, he was a position coach at Nebraska for four seasons (2011-14).

Els coached linebackers for the Huskers, and he also served as their recruiting coordinator and special teams coach. This checks all the boxes that Mike MacIntyre was looking for in a coach. He will coach outside linebackers for the Buffs. Presumably, he agreed to discard all red clothing before entering Boulder. He will coach for the rest of spring ball as well.

Els takes over amid controversy with Tumpkin resigning from CU following domestic violence allegations and an ongoing internal investigation over the handling by MacIntyre and athletic director, Rick George.