Colorado hires Karl Dorrell as head coach after Eric Bieniemy withdraws

The University of Colorado has found their new head football coach in Karl Dorrell after Eric Bieniemy withdrew his name from consideration.

Less than two weeks after Mel Tucker left the University of Colorado to become to the new head football coach at Michigan State, the school has officially found his replacement in Miami Dolphins assistant head coach Karl Dorrell.

Dorrell was announced by the school as Tucker’s successor on Sunday after a hiring process that featured Kansas City Chiefs offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as an early focal point in the search. Both sides reportedly had preliminary interest, but Bieniemy’s side quickly cooled and it wasn’t long until further reports had him withdrawing his name from consideration.

Dorrell has one previous stint as a head coach at any level at UCLA from 2003-2007, where he went 35-27 during that span. The Bruins most successful season came in 2005 when under Dorrell’s tutelage, the team went 10-2 with a Sun Bowl win over Northwestern.

Bieniemy was an obvious target for Colorado from the outset given that he’s an alum who still holds the school’s rushing records. In addition, Bieniemy got his start as a coach with the Buffaloes as the running backs coach before becoming their offensive coordinator in 2011. Andy Reid hired Bieniemy away from Colorado in 2013 as he asked him to be the Chiefs running backs coach.

Bieniemy has served as the Chiefs offensive coordinator for the last two years, but will return for a third season after being passed over for several job opportunities this offseason and last. Bieniemy is once again a hot head coaching candidate for the next round of NFL openings, but nothing is a given at this point.