LINCOLN — Eric Bieniemy, Colorado’s all-time leading rusher, will interview Saturday for the Buffaloes’ head coaching position, a source close to the university’s search confirmed today.
A school representative will meet with Bieniemy in the Washington, D.C., area. Bieniemy is the running backs coach for the Minnesota Vikings, who play the Washington Redskins Sunday in Landover, Md. A Colorado official will also talk to Redskins tight ends coach Jon Embree, another ex-Buff, about the job this weekend.
CU is looking to replace Dan Hawkins, who was fired with three games remaining in the season.
Colorado athletic director Mike Bohn has said he will not do a coach in waiting, meaning Bieniemy and Embree are being considered for the head coaching job and not a coordinator’s position.
Bieniemy, 41, is in his fifth year with the Vikings. Under Bieniemy, tailback Adrian Peterson has earned three consecutive All-Pro honors. Bieniemy’s future with the Vikings has been in doubt since Monday when the team fired head coach Brad Childress.
Prior to coaching in Minnesota, Bieniemy was UCLA’s running backs coach from 2003-05, as well as its recruiting coordinator. In his final year at UCLA, the Bruins finished 10-2 and ranked No. 16 in the country.
Bieniemy went to UCLA from Colorado, where he coached under Gary Barnett from 2001-02 and helped Chris Brown finish third in the nation in rushing at 153.4 yards per game.
Bieniemy is Colorado’s all-time leader in rushing (3,940 yards), all-purpose yards (4,351), touchdowns (42) and scoring (257).
Embree, 45, is in his first year with the Redskins after spending 2006-08 as tight ends coach with the Kansas City Chiefs. He served as an assistant coach with UCLA from 2003-05 after working from 1993-2002 at Colorado, where he coached at various times tight ends, defensive ends, wide receivers and kickers.
Playing tight end for Colorado from 1983-86, Embree finished among the school’s top five in receptions (80) and receiving yards (1,116) for a tight end.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com.
