Undaunted by the challenge of resurrecting a University of Colorado football program mired in controversy, new coach Dan Hawkins has set his sights on nothing less than a national championship.
“That’s the goal,” he said this afternoon as he was officially introduced as the 23rd head coach in CU history. “I’m like a lot of coaches in that I have a lot of corny sayings. One of them is that you have two kinds of class. There is either first class, or there is none. To me, you are either trying to be the best or you’re not.”
In five seasons at Boise State, Hawkins guided the Broncos to a 53-10 record and four straight Western Athletic Conference titles. Now he’ll attempt to get the Buffaloes back on track and pointed toward their first national title since 1990.
Hawkins, 45, replaces Gary Barnett, who was forced out as CU’s coach on Dec. 8 after seven seasons in Boulder. Barnett’s tenure was marred by investigations into his recruiting practices and ended with a 70-3 loss to Texas in this year’s Big 12 Championship game.
Hawkins — who signed a five-year contract worth $900,000 a year that also includes incentives that could push the value well over $1 million – called his leap from Boise State to Colorado “an adventure.”
He also said he was unfazed by the trying circumstances and controversy that has dogged the program, though he heard from many friends who told him he was foolish for leaving a good situation for a risky one.
“There were a lot of people who tried to use the situation as a reason for me not to come here,” Hawkins said. “They said, ‘Why would you want to go there and try to deal with those issues?’ Why would you try to do that? Here you sit in Boise and you are fat and sassy and things are going good, why would you want put yourself in that situation?’^”
But Hawkins said he was ready for a new challenge and said that Boulder was a perfect fit for him and for his family. Still, he understands what he’s walking into, and said he believes he can get the CU players to believe in him.
“There has been a lot of turmoil,” he said. “These guys have been war-torn. It’s like “Saving Private Ryan.” They have been trying to get up on the beach and have taken a lot of bullets. A lot of bullets. We need to get these guys up and going and get them on the main land. I’m sure there will be some scars, but we’ll get over that.”
CU athletic director Mike Bohn introduced Hawkins after his contract was approved by a 9-0 vote by the CU Board of Regents in a specially called meeting. Bohn said he hit a “grand slam” when he was able to lure Hawkins to CU.
“We were looking for a fit,” Bohn said. “I think there is no question that we found the right fit for the University of Colorado in Dan Hawkins.”
CONTRACT DETAILS
Following are the details of Dan Hawkins’ five-year contract:
TOTAL ANNUAL COMPENSATION
Guaranteed a minimum $900,000, broken down as follows:
CAMPUS/COMMUNITY INCENTIVES:
PERFORMANCE INCENTIVES
Other benefits include a NIKE merchandise allowance of $3,500 annually, an automobile allowance of $600 per month or courtesy car at the discretion of the University, a country club allowance of $400 per month, use of one suite for home football games at Folsom Field and complimentary men’s and women’s basketball tickets, and standard University employee benefits per policy to include relocation and temporary housing up to $15,000.
There is also a buyout provision for the University in the amount of $1 million for departure anytime before the end of the second year of the contract, decreasing to $750,000 during the third year and to $500,000 during the fourth or fifth year.
Also, CU will assume the responsibility of retiring Hawkins’ contract obligation to Boise State in an amount not to exceed $700,000.
Staff writer Patrick Saunders can be reached at 303-820-5459 or at psaunders@denverpost.com.
