Colorado State hires Georgia OC Mike Bobo as head coach
Colorado State has hired Georgia offensive coordinator Mike Bobo as the team's next head coach, a source told SI.com. The Coloradoan reported earlier that a deal between Bobo and Colorado State was done.
Bobo interviewed for the position with Colorado State officials last week, and SI.com has learned that it's a five-year deal with an annual average salary of $1.5 million. The contract includes a sizeable buyout that decreases over the life of the deal.
The Rams have been without a head coach since Jim McElwain left to take the vacant Florida job on Dec. 4.
• THAMEL: Ohio State in good hands with QB Jones
Bobo will follow in McElwain's footsteps in going from an SEC coordinator position to Colorado State's head coach. McElwain served as Alabama's offensive coordinator for four years before leaving for Colorado State in 2012.
A Georgia native who played for the Bulldogs from 1994-97, Bobo joined Georgia coach Mark Richt's staff in 2001 as quarterbacks coach and was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2007. He was also a graduate assistant at the school in 1998 and 1999.
Bobo, 40, has coordinated several explosive offenses for the Bulldogs.
Georgia set a school record by averaging 484 yards of total offense per game last season and is poised to set another record this season in points per game, having averaged 42 points through the regular season. Several Bulldogs have gone on to become high NFL draft picks under Bobo's watch, including quarterback Matthew Stafford, wide receiver A.J. Green and running back Knowshon Moreno.
• McCANN: What comes next for FSU's Winston after hearing
Richt said Saturday that the team has "a plan" in place for its preparations for the Dec. 30 Belk Bowl against Louisville should Bobo leave for Colorado State before the Bulldogs depart for the game next Wednesday.
Other candidates that reportedly interviewed for the Colorado State job include Ohio State co-defensive coordinator Chris Ash and Michigan State defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi. Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost was also mentioned in connection with the job.
Colorado State finished 10-3 this season, capped by a 45-10 loss to Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday. Offensive coordinator Dave Baldwin served as the interim coach for the game.
