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Tucker Takes over Buffs Football

Mel Tucker was named CU’s 26th head football coach in December, succeeding Mike MacIntyre, who was let go after delivering a 14-39 Pac-12 record over six seasons.

Tucker, 47, a former University of Georgia defensive coordinator and secondary coach, signed a five-year, $14.75 million contract.

Nick Saban, the Alabama and six-time national champion coach, hired Tucker three times and calls him “one of the brightest coaches in our profession.” A University of Wisconsin alum, Tucker has coached for six universities and three NFL teams.

A new priority at CU will be adding bigger, stronger players, he said: “We need to be stout in the trenches. We have to be able to move people.” Tucker will lead the Buffs onto the field for the first time April 27, for the annual spring game.

“Colorado should be a ‘no excuse’ program,” he said.

Buffs Bits

• Kennedy Leonard (Comm’19) delivered her 613th career assist Dec. 30, becoming CU women’s basketball’s all-time assists leader.
   
• Phillip Lindsay (Comm’18) became the first undrafted rookie named to the NFL Pro Bowl, before a wrist injury ended his season with one game left.
   
• Fresh off a three-year, $34 million extension with the Brooklyn Nets, Spencer Dinwiddie (Comm ex’15) will wear 82 different pairs of custom sneakers this season and auction off each worn pair for charity.
   
• CU Sports Information Director David Plati (Jour’82) received the Football Writers Association of America’s Lifetime Achievement Award. He’s in his 35th year as the Buffs’ SID.
   
• The Colorado Sports Hall of Fame named runner Dani Jones (Psych’19) collegiate athlete of the year.
   
• David Bakhtiari (Comm ex’13) of the Green Bay Packers was named All Pro left tackle for the 2018 NFL season, recognizing him as the best at his position.
   

• CU women’s hurdlers took six of the top seven spots in one 60-meter race in January, including the top three.

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