Colorado analyst Johnnie Mack has been promoted to be the Buffaloes’ running backs coach. (CU Athletics) Colorado head coach Deion Sanders continues making changes to his coaching staff. Per a BuffZone source, CU has promoted analyst Johnnie Mack to running backs coach. Meanwhile, Matt Zenitz of C BS Sports reported Saturday morning that CU is expected to hire Chris Marve, the former defensive coordinator at Virginia Tech, as linebackers coach. Of the 10 primary assistant positions, CU will have at least four new coaches. In addition to Mack and Marve, the Buffs recently hired Brennan Marion as offensive coordinator. The Buffs also have a vacancy at tight ends coach, after Brett Bartolone left to become the offensive coordinator at Nevada. Mack was hired by Sanders a year ago as an analyst and assistant running backs coach. He worked with then-running backs coach Marshall Faulk, who left CU this month to become the head coach at Southern University. Prior to CU, Mack worked as an assistant coach at North Shore High School in Texas. He also spent time at Paetow High School in Texas. Mack’s career includes a stop at Southeastern University as receivers coach, and one year (2019) as a quality control analyst at Hawaii, where he worked with receivers. In 2018, he was a quality control analyst over running backs at Houston Baptist, and in 2017 he coached inside receivers and specialists at North Texas. As a player, Mack was a junior college All-American at City College of San Francisco before playing three years (2002-04) at Texas Tech under head coach Mike Leach. Mack graduated from Tech in 2005. Former Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Chris Marve has been hired as the linebackers coach at Colorado. (Virginia Tech Athletics) Marve most recently was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Virginia Tech from 2022-24. Related Articles If CSU’s Jim Mora keeps promise to land top in-state recruits, it will pay dividends: Renck Exits continue, as six more Colorado Buffaloes set to enter transfer portal Keeler: Deion Sanders isn’t enough. CU Buffs football needs a sugar daddy for Christmas. Two of Colorado’s top football stars plan to enter transfer portal Colorado athletics striving for more revenue to reduce projected deficit Under Marve, Virginia Tech allowed just 24.7 points per game in 2022 (54th nationally), 23.9 (51st) in 2023 and 22.8 (39th) in 2024. The Hokies were also top-60 nationally in yards allowed in all three of his seasons, ranking 58th in 2022 (371.2), 20th in 2023 (316.8) and 57th in 2024 (363.0). Prior to Virginia Tech, Marve spent two years (2020-21) as the linebackers coach at Florida State. In 2019, he was the linebackers coach and defensive run game coordinator at Mississippi State. A star linebacker at Vanderbilt, Marve got his start in coaching at his alma mater. He was a quality control coach for the Commodores in 2014 and graduate assistant in 2015 before being promoted to linebackers coach in 2016. He spent three years coaching Vandy’s linebackers. As a player, Marve was a freshman All-American in 2008 and earned second-team All-SEC in 2009, 2010 and 2011. Marve replaces Andre Hart, who has been the Buffs’ linebackers coach the past three seasons. Hart still has a year remaining on his contract. CU also recently hired Kyle Wagner as an analyst and assistant running backs coach, filling Mack’s role from this past season. Wagner had the same role at Sacramento State this past year, working under Marion, who was the Hornets’ head coach. ...read more read less