Reports: Colorado to inaugurate Joe Bowden as LB coach

The Colorado Buffaloes have reportedly made an addition to their coaching change. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg tweeted on Wednesday that they are expected to hire Joe Bowden.

Bowden will replace former defensive coordinator Tyson Summers’s role as inside linebacker coach. As the tweet above mentions, Bowden has a ton of experience playing and coaching linebackers, both at the college and professional level.

His resume is a bit puzzling, however, as he went from high school football to Central Oklahoma University, straight into the NFL, then to the NAIA. That seems like a major leap, then a major step back, and now another big jump in the ranks.

This hiring signals two important things. First, Karl Dorrell will continue targeting coaches with NFL experience, as he wants his team culture to be as professional as possible.

Second, this means the Buffs will likely promote current defensive line coach Chris Wilson to defensive coordinator. Wilson and Bowden played linebacker together at Oklahoma and know each other well, so this hiring may be Wilson choosing who he wants on his defensive staff.

Wilson has been considered a favorite to succeed Summers, but why fire Tyson Summers and eat that $500K to promote someone already on staff? It only makes sense if Wilson was planning on leaving and Dorrell had to choose which to keep.