One of my favorite stories to follow in recent years has been seeing Deion Sanders’ growth as a head coach. Admittedly, my expectations were low. I’ve been hurt too many times in the past by these high profile coaches who don’t deliver. But not only did Prime Time win games at Jackson State, he put the spotlight on HBCU schools in a way we haven’t seen in some time.
And now, Coach Prime is taking his talents to Colorado for the next step of his coaching journey:
This is an exciting time for Sanders, Colorado, the Pac-12, and a host of others. The word monumental comes to mind when I think of this hire. Think about the things Sanders did as a coach. Jackson State won games, attracted high profile recruits, and even swiped Star talent from going to Florida State. And soon, Coach Prime will get to try his hand at doing that with a mega budget that comes with being at a PAC-12 school. It’s hard not to think about the potential there.
But I also think of the players and program Coach Prime is leaving behind. Jackson State and the rest of the HBCUs deserve the type of shine they’ve gotten in recent years. And it’ll be tough to replicate what Sanders brought to the table without him being the front man. Here’s hoping whomever is up next is ready for the challenge ahead.