DENVER—University of Colorado assistant coach Brian Cabral has been promoted to associate head coach.
Coach Dan Hawkins’ announcement at the school’s annual luncheon to discuss the Buffaloes’ latest recruiting class took Cabral by surprise.
“I’ve never been as shocked about anything like that in my life,” he said Thursday.
Cabral, 51, is entering his 20th year coaching linebackers at Colorado. He also coached the punt return unit for seven seasons and served as interim head coach for three months in 2004.
“Brian Cabral has possibly had more influence over the success of Colorado football than anyone in our history,” Hawkins said. “His style, his grace, his soul radiates through our program. I am proud to recognize Brian as the associate head coach of Colorado football.”
Cabral has worked for four head coaches at Colorado: Hawkins, Gary Barnett, Rick Neuheisel and Bill McCartney. His pupils have included Matt Russell, the 1996 Butkus Award winner, as well as Greg Biekert, Chad Brown and Ted Johnson, all of whom played in the NFL.
A nine-year NFL veteran after a stellar career at Colorado, Cabral was a member of the Chicago Bears’ 1985 Super Bowl championship team.
