Jay Johnson, Chris Kapilovic reportedly leaving Colorado for Michigan State

Mel Tucker will be bringing along the assistants he brought to Boulder. Reports surfaced Monday that Colorado offensive coordinator Jay Johnson and offensive line coach Chris Kapilovic will be following Tucker to Michigan State.

Both Johnson and Kapilovic joined the CU coaching staff last season. Johnson was a quality control coach at Georgia who had previously been the OC at Minnesota and Louisiana. Kapilovic, meanwhile, joined from North Carolina.

Johnson’s exit was expected. He’s close with Tucker and former assistant Darrin Chiaverini was just promoted over him as interim head coach. It was enjoyable that Johnson brought in the pistol offense and played a physical style, but the Buffs’ offense sputtered despite NFL talent at wide receiver and running back.

Kapilovic will be missed next season. He immediately helped improve a young Buffs offensive line that took significant strides during the season. That physical style only found success because players like William Sherman and Kary Kutsch were carving out space. He’s also a terrific recruiter who convinced blue chip prospects Jake Wray and Carson Lee to come to Colorado.

As to who will replace these two, as well as former defensive line coach Jimmy Brumbaugh, the university will wait until they have found a head coach.