February 19, 2009 9:55 AM
Denver comes to Colorado
Got to like a guy with this outlook: ``I'm 50, but I feel 25 most of the time.''
That's Denver Johnson, CU's new offensive line coach, and it's very doubtful the Buffs' returning O-linemen will have any trouble relating to his 25-year-old side.
Johnson never has lived or worked in Colorado, but he's truly back in his element -- coaching the O-line -- and he's ecstatic about the opportunity.
``I've always been an offensive line coach by trade,'' he said. ``I really never thought about being a head coach.''
He first became one at Murray State in Kentucky through necessity -- a saga recounted elsewhere on this web site and in the Rocky's print edition.
After apparently hitting it off immediately with coach Dan Hawkins, Johnson told his wife (Danita) he was ``hopeful this (job) would be the one. I had other opportunities. I had looked in the SEC and the Big 12.
``But I really wanted to get back in the Big 12 (he's been an assistant at Oklahoma and Oklahoma State), and I always thought Colorado would be a good place to be.''
Johnson replaces Jeff Grimes, who held a couple of titles (assistant head coach, running game coordinator) before being plucked from Hawkins' staff by Auburn and immediately getting more security (financially and contractually) than CU could offer.
Johnson, though, comes in with one title -- offensive line coach -- and says he needs nothing else: ``I'm not hung up on titles. I'll help with the run game and the pass game and make contributions in any way I can.
``I'm sure (coordinating the running game) will fall under coach Helfrich's umbrella.''
Mark Helfrich is the offensive coordinator, with receivers coach Eric Kiesau still holding the title of passing game coordinator.
When he interviewed at CU, Johnson said he picked up on an overall esprit d'corps among players and coaches: ``It was outstanding. It's a positive and healthy situation.''
He'll settle into the Boulder area temporarily, plannning a move in early summer when his youngest daughter (Kelsey) graduates from high school and his wife finishes work as a guidance counselor in Normal, Ill., where he was Illinois State's head coach for the past nine seasons.
Join the discussion