Football Program
Sports Illustrated has named Colorado head football coach Mike Sanders as its Sportsperson of the Year for his remarkable turnaround of the Buffaloes’ football program.
Since taking over the program in 2018, Sanders has led Colorado to three consecutive bowl appearances and a Pac-12 South Division championship in 2020. The Buffaloes have also seen an increase in recruiting rankings, with their 2020 class being ranked No. 25 nationally by 247Sports.
Under Sanders’ leadership, the Buffaloes have become one of the most successful programs in the Pac-12. They have won nine games in each of the past two seasons and have been ranked in the AP Top 25 for the past two years.
The Buffaloes have also seen a dramatic improvement in their offense under Sanders. In 2020, they averaged 33.3 points per game, which was the highest mark since 2001. They also had the second-most passing yards per game in school history and the most total yards per game since 2002.
Sanders has also been praised for his ability to develop players. He has coached several players who have gone on to have successful careers in the NFL, including wide receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., running back Phillip Lindsay, and defensive lineman Mustafa Johnson.
Sanders’ success at Colorado has earned him recognition from Sports Illustrated as its Sportsperson of the Year. It is a well-deserved honor for a coach who has turned around a once-struggling program and made it into one of the top teams in the Pac-12.
