Following one of many worst seasons on offense in current Colorado soccer historical past, head coach Karl Dorrell is making a giant change.
On Sunday, the college introduced offensive coordinator/receivers coach Darrin Chiaverini has been relieved of his duties. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg was the primary to report Chiaverini’s dismissal.
Initially employed on Jan. 1, 2016, Chiaverini had one yr left on a three-year contract he signed in 2020. Per the phrases of the deal, CU pays Chiaverini the rest of his base and supplemental wage – greater than $650,000 – by way of the tip of the settlement, which expires Feb. 14, 2023. The buyout might be mitigated if Chiaverini is employed for one more teaching job subsequent season.
The choice to fireside Chiaverini, a former CU receiver, comes two days after a 28-13 loss at Utah within the season finale. The Buffs’ offense completed that recreation with 148 yards and no touchdowns. It was the fourth recreation this season beneath 200 yards and the third with none offensive touchdowns.
Friday’s loss capped what was a traditionally dangerous offense for CU (4-8, 3-6 Pac-12).
The Buffs averaged 257.6 yards per recreation – this system’s lowest complete since 1964 and the worst common for any Energy 5 program since 2014. CU additionally completed with a scoring common of 18.8 factors. Arizona, at 17.2, was the one Pac-12 workforce to attain fewer factors.
CU was held to 14 factors or much less in six of its 12 video games this season and has scored 23 or much less in 12 of the final 16 video games, relationship again to final season.
“It’s been difficult,” Dorrell mentioned after the loss to Utah. “Various gamers are taking part in and we’ve got to proceed to carry these guys ahead and make enhancements week after week after week. That’s the place my disappointment is that I felt like there’s been good weeks the place we’ve proven indicators of that, however then weeks that we’ve form of … not essentially took a step again, however we didn’t make a lot development in any respect. So we’ve got to be higher there. We now have to be higher.”
There have been quite a few points that went into CU’s struggles on offense, together with a freshman, first-time starter at quarterback (Brendon Lewis). The Buffs additionally struggled mightily on the offensive line, to the purpose of firing line coach Mitch Rodrigue after seven video games. And, accidents and a suspension depleted the receiving corps at occasions.
“That’s been a difficult a part of this state of affairs the entire season is taking part in with a younger quarterback that did get higher over the course of the season,” Dorrell mentioned. “However how significantly better may he have gotten? There’s quite a lot of disappointment that I’ve proper now with that, with how (on offense) the dearth thereof has been for many of the yr.”
By way of all of it, it has been Chiaverini calling performs. Of CU’s 135 offensive possessions, 47 (34.8 %) went three-and-out.
The Buffs did set a college document by scoring on 93.9 % of their journeys to the purple zone (31-of-33, with 20 touchdowns), however solely 9 groups within the nation received to the purple zone fewer occasions.
Seeking to spark the offense for subsequent season, the Buffs will transfer on from Chiaverini, whom Dorrell coached at CU from 1995-98. With Dorrell as his place coach, Chiaverini caught 97 passes for 1,199 yards and 6 touchdowns for the Buffs.
After taking part in professionally for eight years (1999-2006), Chiaverini received into teaching in 2007 and labored his approach up the ranks.
Former CU head coach Mike MacIntyre employed Chiaverini as co-offensive coordinator and receivers coach on Jan. 1, 2016, and it’s been a roller-coaster trip over the previous six seasons.
Beneath MacIntyre, Chiaverini was co-coordinator for 3 years, from 2016-18. After co-offensive coordinator Brian Lindgren left for Oregon State, Chiaverini took over play-calling duties in 2018.
5 video games into that season, the Buffs have been 5-0 and averaging 37.8 factors per recreation. From that time, the Buffs went 0-7 whereas averaging 19.4 factors. That freefall led to MacIntyre being fired with one recreation to play.
When Mel Tucker was employed as head coach in December of 2018, he selected to maintain Chiaverini on workers, however demoted him to receivers coach.
Tucker left CU after only one season, in February of 2020, and Chiaverini put his hat within the ring to switch him. Whereas Chiaverini did get an interview for the pinnacle teaching job, CU selected Dorrell as a substitute. Dorrell saved Chiaverini on workers as offensive coordinator.
Throughout Chiaverini’s time on the workers, he has coached 4 receivers who rank within the prime 9 in CU historical past for profession catches (Shay Fields, Bryce Bobo, Laviska Shenault and Devin Ross). He has additionally labored with the highest two passers in program historical past (Steven Montez and Sefo Liufau).