Former CU Buffs coach Rick Neuheisel to take over new Colorado UFL franchise
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Former Colorado Buffaloes head coach Rick Neuheisel will lead the new professional football league team in Colorado Springs.
The United Football League (UFL) announced Wednesday that Neuheisel will return to the Centennial State, but will be 100 miles from Boulder. He'll become head coach of the new franchise starting next year.
Neuheisel makes his return to Colorado nearly 30 years after he took over for CU Buffs legend Bill McCartney. He began his head coaching career at Colorado, where he compiled a 33-14 record from 1995-98. In his first season, he led the Buffaloes to a 10-2 record and a Cotton Bowl victory. Colorado again went 10-2 in 1996, finished No. 4 in the nation and defeated No. 12 Oregon in the Cotton Bowl. He moved on to coach Washington before eventually, landing with UCLA.
Neuheisel has doubled as a CBS Sports analyst, but never truly got out of coaching. This is a new venture with an expansion team in the league. His son, Jerry Neuheisel, has also made the jump into coaching. He was originally at his dad's former, UCLA, before moving over to Northwestern to work with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly this year.
The spring football league, co-owned by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, announced last week that it is expanding to four new markets, including Colorado Springs. They will also be setting up shop in Rhode Island, Utah and Oklahoma. The UFL will have 10 teams when all is said and done with this round of expansion.
Neuheisel led the UFL's Dallas Renegades in 2026. He'll bring the 2026 Renegades roster with him to Colorado Springs.
Colorado will host its inaugural home game on Sunday, April 11, at 3 p.m. ET on ABC, the UFL announced. The new team name, colors, logo and brand identity will be unveiled at a public event at Weidner Field on Sunday, Oct. 25.
At 6,035 feet above sea level, Weidner Field sits more than 750 feet higher than Empower Field at Mile High in Denver, meaning it will become the highest elevation home for a pro football team, the UFL said. The 8,000-seat stadium sits right at the foot of Pikes Peak in the heart of the city.
This will be the first time Colorado Springs will have a pro sports franchise. While the team is not one of the four majors, there will be a ton of buzz in the area. The US Olympic Training Center has called Colorado Springs home since 1978.
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