Colorado fired football coach Carl Dorrell after an 0-5 start in which the Buffaloes lost by more than 20 points in every game.
The school announced the decision Sunday, a day after losing 43-20 to the Arizona. It’s just the fourth 0-5 start in Colorado history (1980, 1984 and 2006).
Dorrell, 58, was brought on as a substitute when Mel Tucker came on State of Michigan out of the blue in February 2020.
Dorrell’s hiring was met with surprise because he hadn’t been a college coach in a while. He was an assistant from Miami Dolphins at that time, but it was UCLA head coach in 2003-07.
Dorrell, who just made a home in the Boulder area, agreed to a five-year, $18 million contract that runs through 2024. His termination was first reported by ESPN. The buyout is about $8.7 million.
Colorado waited to announce the news until Dorrell told his staff and players at a meeting. Defensive coordinator Chris Wilson was also let go.
Offensive coordinator Mike Sanford will serve as interim coach.
Dorrell didn’t have much of an offseason program due to coronavirus-related limitations in his first season, but he led the Buffaloes to a 4-2 mark and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl. Dorrell was named Pac-12 coach of the year.
But since then, things have gone downhill for the Buffaloes. Colorado went 4-8 last season and saw several key players leave through the transfer portal. Colorado has replaced three quarterbacks this season in an attempt to ignite an offense that ranks last in the FBS. The Buffaloes and rival Colorado State, with new coach Jay Norvell, are the only two teams remaining winless in the FBS.
This is reported by the Associated Press
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