Rams losing two coaches to Vols

The Colorado State football coaching staff will feature a pair of new coordinators next season.

Will Friend, CSU’s offensive coordinator and offensive line coach, is joining Jeremy Pruitt’s staff at Tennessee, a source close to the situation told The Denver Post. Defensive backs coach Terry Fair also is leaving CSU for Tennessee. CSU head coach Mike Bobo confirmed their departures Thursday night. Neither assistant will coach for the Rams in the New Mexico Bowl.

“Both (Friend and Fair) are definitely gone. I think they’re catching a plane sometime (Thursday) and headed to Knoxville,” Bobo said. “That’s the nature of this business. These things happen. It’s always difficult when somebody leaves.

“But at the same time, if I was (Tennessee’s) head coach, I would want my coaches there to go on the road. I wish they could stay here for the bowl, but at the end of the day, I understand.”

Kevin O’Brien will step into CSU’s offensive line coach role, and overall offensive game planning will be a collective effort.

Friend was the offensive line coach at Georgia for four seasons under then-Bulldogs offensive coordinator Bobo, who brought Friend to Fort Collins when Bobo was hired as the Rams’ head coach in 2015. However, Bobo has since served as CSU’s primary playcaller.

The Rams have had some of their most prolific offenses in school history during Friend’s three-year tenure, with quarterback Nick Stevens breaking the all-time touchdowns record (68) while only being sacked eight times this season. Also, tailback Dalyn Dawkins has rushed for 1,349 yards and eight touchdowns in 2017.

Next season, CSU also will be without the services of defensive coordinator Marty English, who announced last month that he would not return to the Rams after coaching in the New Mexico Bowl.