Aaron Fletcher was fine with his gig. Fletcher enjoyed plenty of responsibilities at Abilene Christian, and his team generally took care of business on the field.
Yet when opportunity knocks, up-and-coming coaches tend to listen. That goes doubly so when itap Deion Sanders who’s knocking.
One of several newcomers tasked with overhauling and improving the Colorado defense, Fletcher joined Sanders’ staff earlier this year as a cornerbacks coach. Fletcher is coming off a two-year stint as the co-defensive coordinator at Abilene Christian, and he joins a CU program featuring new faces in the secondary, as well as an array of cornerback mentors.
“When this opportunity actually came about, it definitely was a blessing,” Fletcher said. “We talked before, a while back, but I wasn’t expecting it this time around. I got a call from Coach Prime probably right after Thanksgiving to talk to me about potentially this opportunity happening. It just kind of blew my mind from there on, and here I am. I’m eternally grateful.”
A former cornerback at Texas A&M-Commerce, Fletcher made coaching stops at Tulsa, Arizona State and Missouri before landing at Abilene Christian. ACU shared the United Athletic Conference championship last season, winning the league title in each of Fletcher’s seasons at ACU. Last season, Fletcher’s defense led the UAC in rushing defense while ranking fourth in total defense and fourth in scoring defense, the latter of which Sanders said was a point of emphasis while retooling his coaching staff.
Fletcher said he wasn’t necessarily looking to make a move after Abilene Christian reached the second round of the FCS playoffs. The lure of joining the Buffs and working with Sanders helped Fletcher think otherwise.
Sanders, of course, is a Hall of Famer who’s considered one of the best cornerbacks to ever play the game. The Buffs’ staff also includes another cornerbacks coach in Kevin Mathis, who played the position for 10 seasons in the NFL.
“We see so many things alike. We see a lot of things alike,” Fletcher said of his relationship with Sanders. “Itap just unbelievable. And then being able to pick his brain on some of the things as well. The thing that people don’t really know about Coach Prime is Coach Prime is a forever student, also. He’s forever learning and trying to see whatap going on, and being able to impart things in our coaching room and in the players as well. He’s always adjusting as well.
“Itap been a dream come true not because of who he is, but because of the type of man he is. He’s got that name for a reason, and itap not because of the flash. I think he’s in the prime of his mentoring years.”
As the Buffs continue competing through spring drills ahead of the April 11 spring game, they are sorting through the influx of experienced newcomers at cornerback. RJ Johnson and Makari Vickers have returned for CU, but while they combined for five starts last year the duo missed most of the year due to injuries. Through the transfer portal, the Buffs added Boo Carter (Tennessee), Justin Eaglin (James Madison), Emory Floyd (Appalachian State), Paul Omodia (Lamar), Jason Stokes (Utah) and Cree Thomas (Notre Dame).
“Coach Fletch is a great coach,” Johnson said. “He knows how to command a room. He’s a great teacher, so he pretty much breaks it down for us. Just being able to have Coach Prime, coach Mathis — Coach Prime’s a lot more hands-on with the corners this year as well — we’re pretty much getting three coaches that all played the position, and they all know the game very well.”
