Photo by: CUBuffs.com
Woelk: George Eyes Bright Future For Football Program
February 12, 2020 | Football
BOULDER — One thing Colorado supporters of every stripe, shape and size need to understand is this:
The leadership at the University of Colorado who guided CU Athletics to this point, the leadership who made the Buffaloes relevant on a national scale and made Colorado a respected name again, is still in place.
That hasn't changed. From Chancellor Philip DiStefano to Athletic Director Rick George on down, the people who have steadily and steadfastly improved the university and its athletic department are ready to move forward and continue that trajectory.
And, yes, that means the people who hired an excellent football coach some 14 months ago are more than prepared to do it again.
No doubt, Wednesday's news that CU had lost a coach to a program willing to hurl money from every angle was disappointing. George made that clear at his Wednesday morning press conference.
But it is incumbent on everyone to remember that one man did not build CU football. One man did not create the tradition and pride of a program that has been a cornerstone of the state of Colorado's flagship institution for more than a century.
Leadership built that program, and leadership made it strong enough to withstand the occasional tempest.
That leadership is still in place and those leaders will make sure the momentum that CU Athletics has generated over the last six-plus years will not be stalled.
The trajectory of success will continue.
"This is an incredible football program," George told a packed press conference. "It's an incredible institution … I have every belief that our program is in a better position today than it was 14 months ago and we're going to go out and hire somebody that shares the same expectations that I do — that we're going to win a championship. We can do that at Colorado with the resources we have."
Credit George with handling the entire situation with class and dignity. CU's athletic director refused to say anything negative about his former coach.
Instead, George did what great leaders do in critical situations — look ahead, map a strategy and ensure that progress continues. He identified and named an interim coach — assistant head coach and receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini — while at the same time turning his full attention to the head coaching search.
The parameters and expectations haven't changed. There is no doubt what George wants in his next coach, and there will be no shortage of qualified candidates. He has been down this road before.
"I want somebody that shares my passion for this university," George said. "If that's somebody who has been here before, that's great. But I want somebody that shares the passion about Colorado that I do and knows we can win a championship at all levels. We can do that at Colorado. We've done it before and I think we're in a much better position today than we were back then."
George also reiterated what has been a constant at CU for years.
Colorado is a destination job. It is a place where coaches can build and maintain a winning program. One need look no farther than cross country/track coach Mark Wetmore, ski coach Richard Rokos and men's basketball coach Tad Boyle as examples, all of whom have produced sustained success — and done it the right way.
It's a recipe that can be replicated in every sport.
"This is where people can lay down their roots," George said. "It's an incredible community. It's a great state and we play in a terrific conference. We just have to get the right person in here who's committed to the same things that I and my staff are committed to."
Understand that Colorado has made a commitment to its student-athletes to provide a "world-class experience." Buffs have at their disposal first-class facilities, outstanding academic support and cutting-edge expertise in areas from nutrition to career development to mental health.
That didn't change Wednesday — and neither did CU's leadership. The people who have made all those things possible are still in Boulder and still dedicated to making the University of Colorado an elite institution in every regard.
Hiring the Buffaloes' next football coach will simply be the next step in that upward trajectory, and the right people to make that decision are already in place.
The leadership at the University of Colorado who guided CU Athletics to this point, the leadership who made the Buffaloes relevant on a national scale and made Colorado a respected name again, is still in place.
That hasn't changed. From Chancellor Philip DiStefano to Athletic Director Rick George on down, the people who have steadily and steadfastly improved the university and its athletic department are ready to move forward and continue that trajectory.
And, yes, that means the people who hired an excellent football coach some 14 months ago are more than prepared to do it again.
No doubt, Wednesday's news that CU had lost a coach to a program willing to hurl money from every angle was disappointing. George made that clear at his Wednesday morning press conference.
But it is incumbent on everyone to remember that one man did not build CU football. One man did not create the tradition and pride of a program that has been a cornerstone of the state of Colorado's flagship institution for more than a century.
Leadership built that program, and leadership made it strong enough to withstand the occasional tempest.
That leadership is still in place and those leaders will make sure the momentum that CU Athletics has generated over the last six-plus years will not be stalled.
The trajectory of success will continue.
"This is an incredible football program," George told a packed press conference. "It's an incredible institution … I have every belief that our program is in a better position today than it was 14 months ago and we're going to go out and hire somebody that shares the same expectations that I do — that we're going to win a championship. We can do that at Colorado with the resources we have."
Credit George with handling the entire situation with class and dignity. CU's athletic director refused to say anything negative about his former coach.
Instead, George did what great leaders do in critical situations — look ahead, map a strategy and ensure that progress continues. He identified and named an interim coach — assistant head coach and receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini — while at the same time turning his full attention to the head coaching search.
The parameters and expectations haven't changed. There is no doubt what George wants in his next coach, and there will be no shortage of qualified candidates. He has been down this road before.
"I want somebody that shares my passion for this university," George said. "If that's somebody who has been here before, that's great. But I want somebody that shares the passion about Colorado that I do and knows we can win a championship at all levels. We can do that at Colorado. We've done it before and I think we're in a much better position today than we were back then."
George also reiterated what has been a constant at CU for years.
Colorado is a destination job. It is a place where coaches can build and maintain a winning program. One need look no farther than cross country/track coach Mark Wetmore, ski coach Richard Rokos and men's basketball coach Tad Boyle as examples, all of whom have produced sustained success — and done it the right way.
It's a recipe that can be replicated in every sport.
"This is where people can lay down their roots," George said. "It's an incredible community. It's a great state and we play in a terrific conference. We just have to get the right person in here who's committed to the same things that I and my staff are committed to."
Understand that Colorado has made a commitment to its student-athletes to provide a "world-class experience." Buffs have at their disposal first-class facilities, outstanding academic support and cutting-edge expertise in areas from nutrition to career development to mental health.
That didn't change Wednesday — and neither did CU's leadership. The people who have made all those things possible are still in Boulder and still dedicated to making the University of Colorado an elite institution in every regard.
Hiring the Buffaloes' next football coach will simply be the next step in that upward trajectory, and the right people to make that decision are already in place.