CU’S MACINTYRE NAMED TOP COACH
After guiding Colorado to the greatest single-season turnaround in Pac-12 history, Mike MacIntyre claims the league’s coach of the year award. Plus, a look at the all-Pac-12 team.
boulder» After guiding Colorado to the greatest single-season turnaround in Pac-12 history, Mike MacIntyre claimed the league’s coach of the year award Tuesday.
MacIntyre led the Buffaloes to a 10-2 overall record and an 8-1 record in the Pac-12 that culminated in the Pac-12 South Division title and a berth in the conference championship game Friday against No. 4 Washington.
The Buffs have risen to No. 9 in the media and coaches rankings, just one season after finishing 4-9 overall and 1-8 in the Pac-12. The sevengame league turnaround was the biggest in the history of the conference.
“It’s these young men and how well they’ve played and how they’ve bought in to everything we’ve asked them to do,” said MacIntyre, who is also a strong candidate for national coach-of-the-year honors. “Our coaching staff has done a phenomenal job with them. And then our auxiliary people. Everybody that touches our young men takes pride in our young men being successful.
“From our trainers to strength staff to equipment managers to football operations, everybody has done so much to propel these young men and instill confidence and belief in them. I’m just fortunate enough to have ‘head coach’ in front of my name. I’m just along for the ride.”
Outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert and Ryan Moeller (special teams) were named first-team allPac-12 players. Running back Phillip Lindsay, offensive tackle Jeromy Irwin and defensive backs Chidobe Awuzie, Tedric Thompson and Ahkello Witherspoon were named to the second team.
Nine CU players were recognized as honorable mention picks by the league: quarterback Sefo Liufau, receivers Bryce Bobo, Devin Ross and Shay Fields, defensive linemen Josh Tupou and Jordan Carrell, linebacker Kenneth Olugbode and offensive linemen Alex Kelley and Gerrad Kough.
“The reason we won this year is because we have really good football players,” MacIntyre said. “I definitely feel like we should have had more guys on the allconference first team. But that’s how they chose it. The thing I think that’s awesome about our team is that we truly are a team.”
Jake Browning, the sophomore Washington quarterback CU will face Friday, was named Pac-12 offensive player of the year.
“He is a great quarterback,” Thompson said. ” It’s crazy the fact he is a young guy, but he plays like he is a senior. He controls the entire offense.”
Adoree’ Jackson of USC was named the Pat Tillman defensive player of the year. USC quarterback Sam Darnold was named the league’s offensive freshman of the year, and Washington defensive back Tyler Rapp was recognized as the top defensive freshman.