Tucker named head coach at Colorado

ATHENS — Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker has been officially named Colorado’s new head coach. Tucker will not coach in the Bulldogs’ Sugar Bowl against Texas.

Terms of Tucker’s deal at Colorado have not yet been announced, but former Buffaloes coach Mike McIntyre was making $2,878,500, according to USA Today.

Colorado fired Mike McIntyre as coach on Nov. 18 after the Buffaloes lost a sixth straight game en route to a 5-7 finish. McIntyre was 30-44 in his six seasons in Boulder.

Tucker, 46, was making $1.5 million as Georgia’s defensive coordinator and secondary coach.

The No. 5-ranked Bulldogs (11-2) play No. 15-ranked Texas (9-4) in the Sugar Bowl at 8:45 p.m. on Jan. 1 in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.

Tucker was one of three finalists for the Tennessee head coaching job last year and was rumored for several openings this season, including Maryland and Louisville.

Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart indicated he expected turnover on his staff this season.

“I think change is kind of inevitable, you know that that’s going to happen in this profession, (and) you know that coaches get opportunities,” Smart said last month. “When you’re a part of a successful program and you’re able to win games, you’ll have guys get opportunities and I am tremendously happy for them and their families for the opportunities because of what they’ve done for the University of Georgia while they’re here.”

Smart finalist for top coach: Georgia’s Kirby Smart is one of seven finalists for the Dodd Trophy, awarded to the college football coach of the year.

The award is presented by the Bobby Dodd Coach of the Year Foundation and the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl. The award has three pillars of scholarship, leadership and integrity, both on and off the field, according to the foundation.

Smart is joined by Syracuse’s Dino Babers, Northwestern’s Pat Fitzgerald, Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly, Oklahoma’s Lincoln Riley, Alabama’s Nick Saban and Clemson’s Dabo Swinney as finalists.

The finalists have a combined record of 75-9 during the regular season. They have a combined 88 years of head coaching experience with seven national championships and 781 career wins.

Saban (2014) and Swinney (2011) are former winners.

The winner will be announced during the Chickfil-A Peach Bowl week. The game will be played on Dec. 29 between Florida and Michigan.