Boulder – University of Colorado defensive coordinator Mike Hankwitz smiled Friday when asked if he had just established an NCAA record. For the second time in three seasons, Hankwitz had been summoned to serve as an interim head coach.
“I’m not trying (to set a record),” he said.
CU athletic director Mike Bohn took time out from looking for a replacement for fired coach Gary Barnett to name Hankwitz as the man to direct the Buffaloes (7-5) against Clemson (7-4) in the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 27 in Orlando, Fla.
In 2003, Hankwitz became interim head coach at Arizona for the final seven games of the season after John Mackovic was fired.
Hankwitz didn’t waste any time in making some announcements. CU will leave for Orlando on Dec. 21. A Dec. 23 departure date had been anticipated.
“I’m thankful the university has allowed ample time to go down there to prepare,” he said. “It will allow our players to enjoy the bowl functions and yet still get in adequate practice time.”
Also, Hankwitz said all recruiting visits scheduled for this weekend at CU would be moved to a later date.
“We didn’t think it was fair to ask (recruits) to use an official visit if they didn’t know who the head coach would be,” Hankwitz said. “We told them that Colorado is a great institution and has the potential to be a great program and not to jump to conclusions.”
Hankwitz, who turns 58 next Wednesday, is in his second stint with the Buffs. He worked 10 seasons (1985-94) under Bill McCartney. Hankwitz was the defensive coordinator at Kansas and Texas A&M before going to Arizona. He returned to Colorado in February 2004.
“Mike possesses great experience in the profession,” Bohn said in a statement. “(His) organizational skills, discipline and competitive spirit will be a great asset in preparing the team for the bowl.”
Hankwitz conducted seven-on-seven drills Friday, helping the players – many still stunned by Barnett’s firing – to get back into the flow.
“It was a skeleton crew because of finals,” Hankwitz said. “But the ones out there felt good about what they were doing. It felt good just to get back out to work.
“There’s no question players are frustrated right now,” he added. “There is some uncertainty because they know there is going to be change. But there is character on this team. We’ve talked to them about going down to the bowl game and showing people there what kind of character we have. I’m confident they’ll do that.”
Bohn is scheduled to meet with the coaching staff Monday. Hankwitz expects all other CU assistants to stay with the program for the bowl game. No players have indicated they will depart, he said. Hankwitz said he will retain his duties as defensive coordinator for the bowl game.
“I don’t think it would be appropriate to give it up at this time,” Hankwitz said. “It’s not like this is a long-term deal. I should be able to handle both responsibilities. I think the less disruption at this point, the better.”
Still, it’s a difficult time for everyone in the program, he said. Assistant coaches, by state law, operate under one-month contracts. The paychecks could cease Jan. 1.
Hankwitz counted himself among those assistants who hope to be retained by the new coach.
“But I don’t know that it will be an option,” he said. “A new coach is usually allowed free rein to bring in anybody he wants. Some coaches like to keep a couple of (existing) assistant coaches for carry-over and continuity. Others want to bring in a whole new staff. We understand that.”
Hankwitz is counting on the players’ pride in helping the team prepare well for the bowl game.
“We were a team that was playing at a top-20 level at one point this season,” he said. “We have that capability. Our challenge is to get it back.”
Staff writer Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
