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“Mike MacIntyre has been dismissed as head coach”
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November 19th
… CU in a few minutes …
Neill Woelk: Foundation in place; rebuild not required
From CUBuffs.com … Every coach’s first priority, no matter the sport or level of play, is a simple one: leave the program in better shape than when you arrived.
Mike MacIntyre attained that goal at Colorado.
In six years in Boulder, MacIntyre won a division title, reached a bowl game, made the Buffs competitive again in the Pac-12 and steadily improved the talent level. In his last three years as Colorado’s head coach, the Buffs were 20-17 with 12 conference wins, including two wins over ranked opponents in 2016. The 20 wins were the most in any three-year span since Gary Barnett’s team won 20 from 2003-05 and the two wins over ranked teams were the most in a single season since 2003.
But — and there is almost always a “but” in the lifespan of every high-level coach — it also became evident to Colorado officials this year that the Buffs had reached a plateau. After a 5-0 start that landed Colorado in the nation’s top 20, CU hit a six-game slide, with one chance left to become bowl eligible.
Sunday, Colorado officials reached the decision to make a change with the goal of finding someone who can take the Buffaloes to the next level. The foundation MacIntyre leaves puts Colorado in excellent position to find that coach.
… Continue reading story here …
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November 18th
… CU in a few minutes …
Quotes from Rick George’s press conference
… Related … Here is a link to a video of CU athletic director Rick George’s press conference …
Opening statement: “It was a difficult decision, because Mike is a knowledgeable coach, and he has elevated this football team since he arrived in 2013” … What this came down to, is I wanted to see more consistency in producing winning seasons … “.
On the coaching search: “I want to move quickly, but I also want to be very thorough, to be sure that we get this football team back to national prominence. In the days and weeks ahead, I will not be commenting on the search … I would caution people not to go to social media … When you hear it from me, you will know it’s accurate information”.
Why today instead of last week or next week? … “At some point you know. I came to the decision last night … In my gut I felt it was the right thing. I wanted to do it now so as to create a new energy for our football team. I met with the team earlier this morning, and they are excited about the game this weekend. We want to go to a bowl game … I’m more energized after being around our student athletes this morning.”
Was the Oregon State game a factor? … “I’m no different than our fans … I think we were all disappointed … but as the next three weeks went by, my gut told me that I needed to make a decision, and I needed to bring on new leadership. I’m excited about the future of this program, with the student-athletes that we have coming back, and with the recruits that are out there … One game is not going to tip the balance. It’s really a body of work. I was disappointed in last season. I don’t think anybody around me doesn’t know that … Six weeks ago, we’re 5-0, and one of the talks of the country. That’s where Colorado should be every year, and every season. We should be the talk of the country.”
On informing the team … “It’s the worst part of my job … It wasn’t easy, but I know where I want this program to go. I want to win Pac-12 championships. I want to win national championships. I’m committed to that. This is one of the great jobs in all of sport … There is not a better job in all of America.”
What will you look for in a new head coach? … “The most important thing is I want a coach who cares for the student-athletes … They’ve got to be a great recruiter. At the end of the day, you need great student-athletes on your team. I want someone who has the right character, the right integrity … Most importantly, I want to see a coach that sees the same passion about this place that I do.”
Will there be pressure on the new coach to produce immediately? … “I think we’ve got an incredibly talented young football team … I think it’s important to bring in a coach who has the same expectations I do, and that is to win. I think we’ve got enough talent on this football team that we can beat anybody, any time”.
Was the early recruiting period play a role in the timing? … “Certainly, if we had a February Signing Day, it would have had an impact on the decision. Knowing that’s on the horizon, that we have student-athletes who are going to be visiting in a couple of weeks – the extra week will allow us to go out and have those conversations. But you choose the University of Colorado because of the history and tradition … that’s why you come here. None of that’s changed.”
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Press release from the University of Colorado
… Note … Quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper will serve as the interim coach …
From CUBuffs.com … Mike MacIntyre has been dismissed as head coach of the University of Colorado football team, athletic director Rick George announced Sunday morning.
George met with MacIntyre on Sunday morning to inform him of his decision, one day after the Buffaloes suffered their sixth straight loss, falling 30-7 to Utah in the home finale at Folsom Field. George then met briefly with the coaching staff and then the players in a late morning team meeting.
George will name an interim head coach for the final game of the regular season, which is this Saturday against California in Berkeley; the Buffs with a 5-6 record, would become bowl eligible with a victory.
MacIntyre took over as the school’s 25th full-time head coach in December 2012, accepting the position after serving three seasons in the same role at San Jose State. In six seasons at the reins of the CU program, the Buffaloes compiled a 30-44 record, which included a 14-39 mark in Pac-12 Conference games.
After going 10-27 in his first three years (2-25 in the Pac-12), MacIntyre’s fourth season in 2016 was dubbed “The Rise.” Colorado won the Pac-12 South Division with an 8-1 record and was 10-2 in the regular season, climbing as high as No. 9 in the national rankings (Associated Press, USA Today Coaches) and No. 8 in the College Football Playoff Committee’s penultimate poll. He was a near-unanimous choice as the national coach of the year, and the unanimous selection for the Pac-12.
However, since winning the division with a 27-22 win over Utah on Nov. 26 of that year, the Buffs have gone 10-15, starting with a 41-10 loss to Washington in the Pac-12 Championship game and a 38-8 loss to Oklahoma State in the Valero Alamo Bowl, CU’s first postseason appearance in nine years. Colorado then posted a 5-7 record in 2017, losing its last three games of the year when needing just one win to go bowling in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2004-05.
The Buffaloes got off to a 5-0 start this year, ascending to No. 18 in the Coaches poll (No. 19 by the AP); that included two Pac-12 wins over UCLA and Arizona State. Colorado’s last 5-0 start had been in 1998, but the fortunes have since reversed and CU has dropped its last six games and slipped from first to sixth in the Pac-12 South.
“I want to thank Mike for six seasons of hard work and dedication to the program, both on and off the field,” George said. “There’s no doubt that the 2016 season was magical, and it appeared we were headed back to taking our place among the nation’s elite. However, analyzing the direction of the program over the last two years, I felt this is the necessary time to make a change.”
MacIntyre has $10.3 million remaining on his contract, which runs through Dec. 31, 2021. If he obtains new employment in the National Football League or as a collegiate head coach, CU’s contract obligations will be reduced by his new salary amount. The athletic department will make monthly payments from its budget over the course of next three years; none of the funds will come from tuition money, taxpayer dollars or the campus general fund.
George will turn his immediate attention to hiring a search firm to identify candidates for the coaching vacancy as well as working with the current assistant coaches in aiding with the transition and in particular, recruiting.
This is the second year of an early signing period in football that was approved by the NCAA; this year’s three-day window begins on Wednesday, Dec. 19 through Friday, Dec. 21.
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Rick Gamboa wins Buffalo Heart Award
From the Daily Camera … At the end of an emotional week for the entire Colorado football program, particularly a group of seniors playing their final game at Folsom Field, Rick Gamboa needed a moment to compose himself.
After a day of all-around misery for the Buffaloes — from the frigid conditions to the 30 unanswered points by Utah in a 30-7 Utes victory — Gamboa learned he had been named the 20th recipient of the Buffalo Heart Award.
The history of the 20-year old honor actually began with one of Gamboa’s coaches, co-offensive coordinator Darrin Chiaverini, receiving the inaugural award in 1998 from the dedicated bundle of fans who sit behind the CU bench. For 20 years the group has continued to honor the Buffs player who best represents the spirit of the program on and off the field.
Denver Broncos rookie Phillip Lindsay won the honor last year. Despite a forgettable loss in his final home game, Gamboa was momentarily overcome by emotion when asked about the award.
“I’d just say it’s a great honor. I spent the past four and a half years putting my heart and soul for this team, for all the brothers I’ve played with since 2015 up to now. I think being recognized as that is something I’ll always be proud of that.
“For me, it’s just knowing the last time I’ll be playing in Folsom. I’m never going to put on a Colorado uniform ever again, and just reliving everything I’ve gone through since I’ve been here the past four and a half years. It’s more joy and happy of what I’ve accomplished.”
… Continue reading story here …
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ESPN: Colorado head coach Mike MacIntyre fired
From ESPN … Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre has been informed by school officials that he will not be retained next season as the Buffaloes’ head coach, sources told ESPN.
MacIntyre is in his sixth season at Colorado, which has lost six straight games, including a 30-7 setback Saturday to Utah.
Denver7 had reported last week that Colorado would part ways with MacIntyre but athletic director Rick George said in a statement that he had not made any “decisions regarding the future of the football program.”
MacIntyre led Colorado to the Pac-12 championship game in 2016 and earned national coach of the year honors.
He is 30-44 overall as the Buffaloes’ coach.
Colorado AD Rick George wants to hire a recognizable name with previous head-coaching experience, according to sources. Possible candidates include former Oregon coach and Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich, Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford, Boise State coach Bryan Harsin and West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen, who may be interested in making a move after the season.
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… Note … More to come as this story unfolds …
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43 Replies to ““Mike MacIntyre has been dismissed as head coach””
Let me drop some truth on you people, I’m reading too much uninformed garbage.
Macintyre left this program in much, much better shape than it was before he got here. Only a complete derelict would disagree. Was it time for him to go? Yes. But he left a positive mark, on and off the field. Have some class and appreciate it.
Embree is a good man who cares deeply about the program. But if he were a good head coach he would still be on our sidelines. Having more resources does not/not instill team fundamentals, which we sorely lacked under his tenure. The fact this has to be brought up again is stunning.
We also shouldn’t waste breath arguing about who is interim coach. It’s one game and we are nitpicking over how seats are arranged on the Titanic. Let’s strive to have more perspective than this folks.
Helfrich is not the most ignorant suggestion on this board. But no. He is a coordinator, not a head coach. If he were, he would still be calling plays at Oregon. I love Chev as a recruiter and motivator. But head coach–that is plain nuts. He isn’t even a coordinator right now folks. Have you been watching our games? He has real growing to do.
The best candidates are Leavitt, Dana Holgorsen at West Virginia, and then perhaps Neal Brown at Troy.
The stepping stone argument against hiring a Leavitt or some other coach is stupid. A coach is only able to move on to greener pastures in the wake of great success. Would we be better off after 2-3 years of winning and a short-term coach than we are right now, with what appears to be 6 years of mostly losing and one 10-win anomaly in 2016 under Mac? Obviously yes….so obviously yes.
And Les Miles would have been a great hire. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool. National Championship coach, SEC powerhouse, proven track record. What kind of program do you think this is to turn that down? Jesus, seriously.
Yo Stuart,
It’s a new day in Boulder. Today was as beautiful as yesterday was not.
Mike MacIntyre had almost six years to turn the Colorado program around. He produced five last place finishes in his six years. In other words, he failed.
I’m already sick of people touting the “achievements” of MacIntyre. They talk about how much better the program is now. That’s BS to the highest degree.
The prior coach, Jon Embree, a CU legend by the way, took over the horrible mess that was left by Dan Hawkins. Hawk and MacIntyre were paid SIGNIFICANTLY more than Colorado gave to Embree.
In fact, CU became notorious around the nation as the school who would not even provide bottled water for Embree’s coaching staff. And just a reminder, MacIntyre makes a lot more than Embree’s entire staff put together.
After that embarrassment, Colorado went out and got Rick George and built one of the finest football facilities in the country. Things were not the same for Jon Embree. They cut every penny they could and treated a fine man like dirt. If they had given Embree the same financial and facilities support that they gave to Mickey Mac, the Buffs would now be a top 25 team year in and year out.
Regardless, back to MacIntyre. Everybody’s acting like he died and no one should say anything bad about him. Well, he’s very much alive and looking a gift $10 Million plus heading toward his bank account. By the way, that $10 Million for three years would have paid Embree for more than 13 years because Jon came here as a man dedicated to the University of Colorado.
MacIntyre came here as a carpetbagger. He did not promote the University of Colorado. He did nothing but try to promote himself right up until the very end. He fooled a lot of folks with his act, but he could not fool the realities of Power Five football.
2016 was an anomaly year. It was due to Jim Leavitt, not MacIntyre. Some of Mac’s lackeys are now putting down Leavitt by claiming he was “hard to work with” because he was the only guy on MacIntyre’s staff since he was here at Colorado to have head coach experience. The fact that it was a “winning” head coach experience was a threat to the BS that MacIntyre was trying to promote.
MacIntyre knew that Leavitt was a threat, so he did everything in his power to urge Jim Leavitt to move on. Once he did, the wins for Colorado stopped coming. One of the more humorous lies from the MacIntyre camp is that Leavitt was not a good recruiter.
Yeah, right. Sure Mac. Oregon is now sitting on the #3 recruiting class in the country. Read Leavitt’s twitter feed (@CoachJimLeavitt) to see how much he recruiting he does.
Mike MacIntyre’s biggest fear right now is that Jim Leavitt becomes the next head coach for the University of Colorado. Because he knows that the guy he hated and ran off would show what could be done by a head coach who knows what he is doing.
I don’t know if Jim Leavitt would even consider Colorado after how he was treated by MacIntyre, but I do know he wants to be a head coach again. I will leave it up to Rick George, who brought Leavitt here in the first place.
In any case, I don’t want to hear about how “great” a coach that Mike MacIntyre is. If he was a great coach, Colorado would not be in the situation it is now and MM would have a job. Don’t tell me that he’s a “family man” and a “church goer” as reasons why he should be head coach. There are 75 million men who can say the same in this country alone.
Good riddance to a bad coach, and a good con man. He conned CU out of $10 Million. Don’t let the door hit you on the backside on your way out. He has been preaching mediocrity (six wins) ever since he got here as being acceptable. It’s not. Go away.
It’s good to be back in the saddle again.
Mark/Boulderdevil/GoldenBuffs
wow…tell us how you really feel 🙂
I agree with most of t. What boggles my mind is why MM went with and wouldnt change the stale and redundant O scheme and plays even though it failed time after time. MM cant be dumb enough to recognize that failure. It must be he total inability and stubbornness to admit failure. At any rate he is gone thank God….irony intended
THE TURD HAS BEEN FLUSHED!
NO NOT LEAVE-SH*T!!! I mean Leavitt. Seriously, best case scenario is he comes back and has a good two years and uses us as a stepping stone to a bigger/better school. Worst case is we suck for 5 and fire him. Its like the toilet paper begging to be wiped with again.
being used as a stepping stone would leave the program a hell of a lot better off than MM did
Is yur last name principle?
No one else has commented on the choice for interim coach – says a lot that neither OC, nor the DC were named. I like Chev (he’s a great recruiter), but he’s not ready to be a HC. The rest on offense need to go (maybe Roper gets a pass, let’s see how he does vs. Cal). Like the DL coach, and the secondary coach is OK. Rest on defense also need to go.
I also disagree about Mac2 “doing a good job”. Folks, he finished LAST in all but one season! He really could not coach on the PAC-12 level. Results don’t lie. 2016 was due to Leavitt’s defense and Sefo’s leadership, not due to coaching. CU got killed in the PAC-12 championship and the Alamo Bowl, we were terribly outcoached in both. Just like we were outcoached in EVERY game starting with USC. We are fortunate we caught UCLA and ASU when we did, if we played them now, we’d lose. The slide down started when someone (?) decided to play 3 freshmen on the OL. Montez has been running for his life ever since.
In the end, the sign of a good coaching staff is improvement throughout the year. That didn’t happen here (except in 2016), and certainly not this year.
I hate to be a pessimist, but if the smoke clears and we do play Cal, my money says we lose by 2-3 TD’s. Simple reason – Cal has improved in October and November, CU has regressed. Mac lost me when he started whining about injuries; ask Kyle Whittingham about injuries!
I wish Hagan had been named interim coach. He could easily handle it for one game. He is also the least complicit for the worthless O that MM couldnt or wouldnt change
The “search firm” was in the Dave Plate press release.
See response below … VK said “RG says a search firm”, which was incorrect …
Thanks to Mac for his contributions. Thanks to RG for making the decision now, naming an interim coach, and stating his expectations. I feel that he will bring in a high quality candidate. I’m encouraged by some of the names on the list and glad CU is out in front of this season’s coaching carousel. I also have some hope that the Buffs have a fighting chance this coming weekend with this negative distraction behind them.
Matt Canada. He knows offense. You win by scoring more points.
Wonder how long this takes. RG says a search firm (Won’t be that relative…I hope… of that failed ST guy) oh ok. Just as long as it’s not a search committee Bohn was that guy……….He is doing okay now and he does have lifetime season tickets………..
So the time line.
Early signing date is December 19th. 31 days. 4 weekends including the coming one.
Gotta give the new guy at least two weeks before signing day. Maybe 3.
Now this is complicated by the bowl practices assuming a win…………(Odds say there is one)
I say the new coach has gotta be in place by the 1st at the latest.
Uh Oh a New Coach for the Mighty Buffalo.
Note: None of those deek pundits picked Lindsay. Clueless just looking for clicks.
Note 2: How long has RG had his short list in place. The long list ended quite a while ago.
Note 3: Heavy Rumor. Very Heavy………Gonna be a Pro guy.
I have to agree the gonna hire a seach firm comment was not something I wanted to hear. Shouldn’t they have already done that, and have viable candidates on deck before firing the head coach? That is how a well run business would do it. Hopefully just a communications tactic.
I wouldn’t put too much stock into how VK phrases his posts.
I listened to the Rick George press conference twice – once sentence by sentence as I was posting his quotes, above. He never mentioned a “search firm” as VK suggests.
Every athletic director has a list of possible candidates for every coaching position at his school, and Rick George would be no different.
Really Stuart???? Did I say it was in his press conference? Oh ya he has his list but…………
From Neil Woelk
George will turn his immediate attention to hiring a search firm to identify candidates for the coaching vacancy as well as working with the current assistant coaches in aiding with the transition and in particular, recruiting.
From Neil Woelk
George will turn his immediate attention to hiring a search firm to identify candidates for the coaching vacancy as well as working with the current assistant coaches in aiding with the transition and in particular, recruiting.
https://cubuffs.com/news/2018/11/18/football-macintyre-will-not-return.aspx
You should always put stock in my posts. Facts man.
Ya gotta look at all the stuff Stu. Your training suggest you should do this.
I will accept your apology, but you don’t have too.
Hope you post this eh?
Go Buffs.
Note: Call Neil
Note 2: You know they don’t just hire search firms to search right? Handle the meddling rules etc etc
I believe your quote was “RG says a search firm … “.
I was just pointing out that Rick George did not mention a search firm in his press conference, as you implied.
Like Chuck Fairbanks was?
I for one appreciate everything MacIntyre has done for this program. Things were a mess when he arrived, yet he put together competitive teams and a terrific season in 2016. In my mind the Buffs were a good team this year, save the offensive line. Unfortunately the O line proved to be too detrimental. I hope Rick George is making a good decision – I’m not convinced this is the right move…. Hope I’m wrong.
It is going to be really interesting to watch this unfold. Leavitt? Mendenhal? Long? Monken? Kiffin? Babers? Others? Rick has a very busy few weeks ahead. I gotta say, the initially reported/rumored short list is not all that inspiring, to me. I would think rick’s is broader and deeper.
As many have noted, the program is in much better shape than when Mac took over. The roster is arguably the best it has been in transition to a new coach since Barnett took over from neuheisel.
Thanks Mac, sorry it didn’t work out as we hoped. looking forward to seeing what’s ahead for all involved.
Go Buffs
Good riddance
And no miles ands helfrich are not good ideas
Get levitt and let chev grow into his job
Starting three freshman on the o line is arecreuiting and crap coaching issue
Oh I saw this after my answer to another post of yours. I see that I am in error.
Go Buffs
Chev is not ready t be an oc. He needs to be demoted. Sorry
Jim Leavitt. Proven winner as a head coach 95 – 57 building a program from the ground up. Great defensive mind, great motivator.
Yup, RobO, Leavitt does need to be in the final list of candidates.
It was more than time to fire MM. I do appreciate him taking a program mired in the bottom 10 % of everything in Div. 1: Team rankings. Offensive stats. Defensive stats. I think everyone associated with the program, including the players, liked MikeM. As I’ve said, “He’s the kinda guy you would want your daughter to marry.” Church goin fella, too.
I wish you nothing but the best down the road Coach. Thanks for your efforts, but the results were less than satisfactory the past 2 years….when they should have been acceptable and the team should have gone to two bowl games.
You were a H-U-G-E improvement over your predecessor. GO Buffs
Just so tired of this losing program. I’ve had season tickets for28 years and it just keeps getting worse. To bad he got the contract renewal, that will now cost them dearly
Heavenly Sunday.
Looking only at the future whatever it may bring. Past is past. Thanks for the rebuild Mac2. Good luck in your new turnaround opportunity wherever it may be.
Get the sixth boys. The future starts right dang now.
Uh Oh here come the New Mighty Buffalo
VK, my guess is that in 3-4 years you (and others) will be screaming for the next coach to be fired. I’m concerned we are in a never ending cycle of hire and fire much like many other teams out there.
Really,
So your saying the next coach will be a bad hire?
Well where is your faith in RG?
He took a leap on Mike. He missed. He gave him 2 years after 2016. Mike did not pass the test.
Buffs.
Note: I will say this, with the talent on the team, the incoming talent and the right attitude if whoever it is has me calling for a change, it was the wrong hire in the first place. Mike was not the Coach for RG. Did you listen to the press conference? Key words in their that stated what he wanted and at the same time stated what Mac does not possess.
Note 2: Your guess indicates you are satisfied with mediocrity or less. AMIRITE?
Mediocrity? No, I do not wish the Buffs to be mediocre, but I can accept mediocre teams if and when they serve as stepping stones to something better. Is that what was happening with MacIntyre’s Buffs? I don’t know. But I do see a number of programs that I consider mediocre, that continually hire and fire coaches. Anyhow what’s done is done and I hope the next hire is a REALLY good one. Just an FYI there are a couple different Steves commenting on these threads.
I know fans are frustrated and this had turned from a dream season to a nightmare. But I do want to thank Coach Mac for improving the CU brand. While we still are not where we want to be, we sure as hell are in a better place than when he started here. When he took over we were the worst p5 program in the country. We now have a decent amount of talent and are a much more attractive job than when he took it. Im sad it didnt work out but he took us to a new level. Now we need to go to the next level and i dont think that will be as difficult as it was for him when he took over. Go Buffs and thanks coach Mac
My biggest regret is that in this process, they have let Les Miles escape to Kansas. He would have been terrific in a return to Boulder.
Anyone else think that maybe the Denver7 leak last week was a move to see if Les Miles would bite for CU rather than Kansas? We will never know I guess. I am all on board for Mark Helfrich.
NO and NO
Buffs
VK, you should have used your bold type for that comment.
Helfrich ! Hell No x 10
I hope rick’s list is better than ESPN reported. That group doesn’t do much for me. Will be interesting to see this unfold. Is Helton next?
Go Buffs
Then it’s probably a good list
Buffs
JIM LEAVITT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FINALLY!!!!! NOW GO OUT AND GET A REAL COACH!!!!
Why not add Les Miles? I know he is in talks with Kansas, but this is a much bigger program with better ties.
Dammit I had an argument with friends and bet that he would be fired on Monday morning, not Sunday morning.
God works in mysterious ways.
Go Buffs.
Note: Mike, get the job of your dreams………….and hurry…………..save the Buffs some cash
Chirality, do your friends get a pay out of $10.3M over the next 3 years as your settlement of the bet?