Buffs closing in on deal with Tucker to be coach

BOULDER» Colorado is close to hiring its next head football coach.

Tuesday afternoon, FootballScoop.com reported that CU and Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker have reached an agreement for Tucker to become the Buffaloes’ new head coach, an announcement that has been expected since news broke from multiple media outlets last weekend.

A source at CU told Buffzone.com that a deal has not been finalized yet. However, an official announcement and news conference is expected within the next 72 hours, barring any hiccups.

CU athletic director Rick George fired head coach Mike MacIntyre on Nov. 18. For the past several days, the Buffs have zeroed in on Tucker, a long-time coaching veteran with no previous experience as a fulltime head coach.

George is in New York this week for the National Football Foundation banquet and College Football Hall of Fame dinner and won’t return to Boulder until Wednesday.

Tucker was reached by phone by Buffzone.com on Monday, but declined to comment on his situation.

“I wish I could, but I can’t at the moment,” he said.

Tucker, who would become the 26th full-time head coach in CU history, coached in Saturday’s SEC championship game. The 46-year-old would bring a winning pedigree to Boulder.

As a player at Wisconsin, he was part of a Rose Bowl victory in 1993.

Tucker has worked at the highest levels of college football, as well as in the NFL. As a coach, he has been a part of two national championship teams — Ohio State in 2002 and Alabama in 2015.

Tucker’s only experience as a head coach came on an interim basis in 2011, when he led the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars for five games. He has reportedly interviewed for college head coaching jobs during the past few offseasons, including at Tennessee a year ago.