Colorado assistant Warren Sapp resigns; Chris Marve promoted to DC - ESPN

Colorado coach Deion Sanders is putting the finishing touches on his coaching staff makeover with spring practice starting Monday. He will be without one of his good friends, too.

Hall of Fame defensive lineman Warren Sapp announced his resignation to «pursue other opportunities,» the school said in a statement. «CU athletics thanks Warren for his contributions to our football program over the last two seasons and for his commitment to our student-athletes.»

Sapp was the defensive pass-rush coordinator for the Buffaloes last season.

Sanders promoted Chris Marve to defensive coordinator after the departure of Robert Livingston, who recently took a job with the Denver Broncos as their passing game coordinator and secondary coach. Livingston spent two seasons with the Buffaloes, including the year Travis Hunter won the Heisman Trophy as a two-way standout.

Marve was the defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach at Virginia Tech from 2022 to 2024. He took a job with Colorado in December as the linebackers coach.

«Chris Marve was hired with the knowledge that he could one day advance considering his history and experience if the opportunity was presented,» Sanders said in a statement Saturday. «He's a teacher, a motivator and a man of great character.»

It has been a busy offseason on the coaching front for Sanders. In December, he hired offensive guru Brennan Marion to instill a high-octane scheme Marion termed the «Go-Go» offense.

The Buffaloes now feature a Black head coach and Black offensive and defensive coordinators for the first time in program history, the school announced.

«I'm excited to get on the field Monday with these two extraordinary coordinators that will uplift our program on and off the field,»