Deion “Coach Prime” Sanders became the University of Colorado’s head football coach on December 3, 2022, as announced by athletic director Rick George.

Sanders, 55, is coming to CU from Jackson State University, where he led the Tigers to an impressive 27-6 record over three seasons. Under his guidance, they won consecutive Southwestern Athletic Conference titles, with records of 11-2 in 2021 and 12-1 in 2022.

At Jackson State, Sanders excelled both on and off the field, championing greater visibility and fairness for all Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). He drew national focus to HBCUs, advocating for their talent and culture. In March 2022, Sanders organized a Pro Day with athletes from four Mississippi schools, giving them a platform in front of 22 NFL teams and the Canadian Football League. A month later, Jackson State made history as the first HBCU to have its spring football game broadcast live on ESPNU.

SMAC Productions’ ‘Coach Prime’ series debuted on Prime Video in December 2022, showcasing Jackson State’s perfect season and Coach Prime’s move to Colorado.

Sanders became Jackson State’s 21st head coach on September 21, 2020. Due to COVID-19, his debut game was delayed until spring when restrictions eased. Six months later, on February 21, 2021, he led the Tigers to a decisive 53-0 victory against Edward Waters (Fla.). This game marked the beginning of the “Coach Prime Era” and was pivotal in elevating JSU football and the University to national prominence.

In the pandemic-delayed 2020 season, JSU went 4-3. In 2021, they bounced back with an 11-2 record, won the SWAC title against Prairie View A&M, but lost to South Carolina State in the Celebration Bowl. Their only other loss was to Louisiana-Monroe.

In 2021, seven of his JSU players went pro in the NFL, CFL, or USFL, including James Houston IV, drafted by the Detroit Lions. He also brought in top high school prospect Travis Hunter, the highest-ranked recruit ever to join an HBCU or FCS program.

In 2022, Sanders was named SWAC Coach of the Year for the second time, with 12 of his players earning All-SWAC honors. The previous year, he received multiple accolades, including FCS Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year, BOXTOTOW National Coach of the Year, and Black College Hall of Fame Coach of the Year.

Jackson State had a stellar 2022 season, going 12-1, winning the SWAC Championship again, and reaching the Celebration Bowl. Unfortunately, they lost in overtime to North Carolina Central. It was a tough end, but they had a lot to be proud of that year.

Before joining Jackson State’s coaching team, Sanders spent over a decade coaching. He worked as the offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian School in Texas, guiding them to three consecutive TAPPS titles and an impressive 42-3 record. Sanders also contributed to the coaching staff for the Under Armour All-America Game since 2012. In February 2022, he was honored as an HBCU legacy coach for the NFL Pro Bowl.

COLLEGIATE HONORS

In college, he was a big deal. Played football for Florida State and was really, really good. Won this award called the Jim Thorpe Award in 1988, which is a big deal for defensive backs. He didn’t win it the first time, but hey, he got it the second time! Was also up for the Heisman Trophy that same year, ended up eighth in the voting. So yeah, pretty impressive dude on the field back then.

During his time with the Seminoles, he made quite the impact on the field. With 14 interceptions under his belt, including three touchdown returns, he left his mark in the FSU record books. One highlight? A stunning 100-yard interception return for a touchdown against Tulsa in his freshman year, still the longest in school history. But it wasn’t just interceptions—he also dominated in punt returns, tallying up an impressive 1,429 yards and scoring three more times. Playing for legendary coach Bobby Bowden, he helped lead FSU to a stellar 36-9-1 record over four seasons, finishing as high as No. 2 in the nation.

In addition to his football success, he also had a stint playing baseball for FSU during his sophomore year, where he hit .267 with three home runs, 21 RBIs, and a whopping 27 stolen bases. On top of that, he showcased his speed on the track, winning the 100- and 200-meter dashes at the 1988 Metro Conference outdoor championships. His achievements earned him spots in both Florida State’s Athletic Hall of Fame and the College Football Hall of Fame.

NFL & MLB CAREERS

Sanders played in two Super Bowls and the World Series.

Over his career, he played in 188 regular NFL games, starting 157 times. He was picked fifth overall by the Falcons in ’89 and played for Atlanta till ’93. Then he moved to San Francisco in ’94, Dallas from ’95 to ’99, Washington in 2000, and Baltimore from 2004 to 2005. In 1994, he was the NFL Defensive Player of the Year, and he made it to the 1990s All-Decade Team. In 2020, he was honored on the NFL’s All-Time Team for its 100th season celebration.

Prime Time was a standout in football, snagging 53 interceptions during his career and making 512 tackles. He was a force with 19 forced fumbles and 13 recoveries too. Known for his electrifying returns, he racked up 7,838 all-purpose yards, including 2,199 from punts and 3,523 from kickoffs. Beyond his defensive prowess, he dabbled as a wide receiver, catching 60 passes for 784 yards and scoring three touchdowns. In 1996, he made history as one of the NFL’s few two-way starters since the 1950s. Notably, he holds the NFL record for 19 return touchdowns—nine interceptions, six punt returns, three kickoffs, and one fumble recovery.

He played in 12 playoff games, snagging five interceptions and clinching back-to-back Super Bowl wins with both the 49ers and Cowboys. Notably, he made three tackles and an interception in the 49ers’ victory in Super Bowl XXIX, and caught a 47-yard pass in the Cowboys’ Super Bowl XXX win over Pittsburgh. Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2011, his 14-year NFL career was highlighted by nine All-Pro selections and eight Pro Bowl appearances.

He had a shot at Major League Baseball when the Kansas City Royals drafted him in high school, but he decided to go the college football route instead. Later on, the New York Yankees picked him in ’88, and he finally stepped onto the MLB field on May 31, 1989. He even made it onto the Yankees’ opening day roster in 1990.

Sanders spent over a decade in baseball, playing for big teams like the New York Yankees and Atlanta. Across 641 games, he batted .263 with 558 hits, scoring 308 runs, hitting 39 home runs, and notching 186 stolen bases. His journey also took him to Cincinnati and San Francisco, leaving a mark wherever he went.

During the 1992 World Series, Sanders played in four games for Toronto against Atlanta. He hit an impressive .533, scoring four runs and stealing five bases.

In his career, Sanders shared the field with several former Colorado Buffaloes. Notably, Jay Howell, who played for the Atlanta Braves in ’93, was one. In the NFL, his CU buddies included Jeff Donaldson and Mike Pritchard with the Falcons (’91-’93), Greg Jones, Jay Leeuwenburg, and Michael Westbrook with the Redskins (’00), and Kordell Stewart with the Ravens (’04-’05).

SANDERS & COLORADO

Sanders faced Denver’s NFL teams four times, winning twice at home. He couldn’t make it to one game in Colorado in 1995 due to wrapping up his MLB season with the Giants. In 1994, during San Francisco’s 42-19 victory over the Broncos, he snagged an interception at Candlestick Park. His only game in Colorado wearing a football uniform was in 2005 with the Baltimore Ravens, where he made an unassisted tackle in his final pro season.

He caused a lot of trouble for the Colorado Rockies. In 29 games against them while playing for the Braves, Reds, and Giants, he hit .381 (45-for-118), scored 25 runs, and swiped 16 bases. Most of those games weren’t even in Colorado, but when he did play there, he still hit a solid .378 (14-of-37). His only home run against the Rockies came at Mile High Stadium when he was with the Braves in ’93 and ’94, and later at Coors Field with the Reds in ’97.

Deion Sanders Net Worth

Deion Sanders is a retired American professional football and baseball player who has a net worth of $45 million.

PERSONAL

Sanders called it quits in baseball in 2001. Then, after taking a break from NFL from 2001-03, he made a comeback, playing two more seasons with the Baltimore Ravens in 2004-05.

In 2001, he kicked off his broadcasting journey, joining NFL Today on CBS. After three years, he shifted gears, spending 14 years at the NFL Network. You might’ve caught him analyzing games and popping up on shows like GameDay Prime and Thursday Night Football.

Success has been Sanders’ main focus, whether on the field or in school. Since retiring as an athlete in 2006, he started TRUTH, helping over 1,100 kids in Dallas and Memphis. He believes in using education to build leaders.

Sanders finally accomplished his goal! After years of hard work, he graduated from Talladega College in 2020 with a degree in Business Administration, focusing on Organizational Management.

Sanders has five children who are all carving their paths. His sons Deion Jr., Shilo, and Shedeur bring their skills to sports—Shilo as a safety and Shedeur as a quarterback. Deion Jr. manages social media and covers the Buffs. Sanders’ youngest, Shelomi, plays guard for Colorado’s women’s basketball team, showing the family’s deep sports roots and diverse interests.

(Deion Sanders still has Constance Schwartz-Morini from SMAC Entertainment and Tabetha Plummer from Plummer Law Group in his corner.)