Colorado Athletic Director Rick George, who brought Deion Sanders on board, will resign after 11 years.

University of Colorado Athletic Director Resigns

The man responsible for bringing Deion Sanders to the University of Colorado’s football program is stepping down. Rick George, the Athletic Director, announced on Thursday that he will leave his position at the end of the academic year but will continue to support the university in a fundraising advisory role.

“After a lot of thought and discussions with my family, I’ve come to realize that it’s time for a new direction in leadership,” George stated. He added that he wanted to time his announcement to ensure he could continue supporting Coach Sanders and the football team during the current season.

George has held the Athletic Director role since 2013, and his major move was hiring Sanders in 2022. Under Sanders’ leadership, the Buffaloes reached a bowl game in 2024. However, following a loss to West Virginia last Saturday, it seems they’ll finish this season without another bowl game and with a losing record for the second time in three years.

Since Sanders took over, Colorado State has a 16-19 record and is currently struggling at 3-7 this season.

After the recent game, Sanders expressed frustration, saying, “This isn’t who we are. We expect better than this. I want to be better, and I believe we have the talent to perform better than what we’ve shown.” He emphasized the importance of identifying the right coaching strategy moving forward.

Last year, Colorado State achieved a 9-4 record, and Sanders was given a five-year, $54 million extension, extending his contract until 2029.

George had publicly endorsed Sanders just last week, saying, “I’m proud of Coach Prime. He’s been through a challenging year but continues to work hard and motivate the team. We just need more wins.”

Meanwhile, Sanders recently underwent surgery to remove a tumor, which led to his bladder being taken out, though he reported no signs of cancer since the operation.