University of Colorado names former NFL star Deion Sanders as head coach

The University of Colorado has announced that former NFL star Deion Sanders will be the school's next head football coach.

"There were a number of highly qualified and impressive candidates interested in becoming the next head football coach at Colorado, but none of them had the pedigree, the knowledge and the ability to connect with student-athletes like Deion Sanders," Colorado Buffaloes Athletic Director Rick George said Saturday evening. 

Sanders, 55, previously coached three seasons of college football, finishing 27-5 at Jackson State University in Mississippi. 

Known as "Prime Time" during his nine Major League Baseball seasons and 14 NFL seasons, Sanders, also an NFL hall of famer, has since been given the nickname "Coach Prime." His first game at Colorado will be Sept. 2.

"Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, I'm confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character," George said.