In just over four months, the impact that Darrin Chiaverini has had on Colorado Football in his second go around in Boulder (this time as a coach after his 1995-1998 playing career) has been immense and yet he has another four and a half months until he coaches his first game for the Buffs.
Chiaverini has brought the Buffs into 2016 recruiting with his use of social media and adulation for his alma mater. He has helped direct his staff and get them more interactive on social media but out on the recruiting trail and selling CU again.
Is this all due to Chiaverini? No, but there is no doubt there was a noticeable change in recruiting philosophy and the way the staff approached recruiting than ever before under Mike MacIntyre. This staff is selling CU is on the rise (#Rise16) and has facilities, equipment and tradition that can go up against any of the big dogs. To hear a recruit even breathe CUs facilities in the same sentence of Oregon's facilities is astounding. CU has built a world class facility and spent money where it belongs, not on some Teak wood lifting platform and aesthetic elements that cost 5x what you can get the same look/feel. The Buffs are on the RISE and it is because Chiaverini has been relentless on the recruiting trail. The Buffs coaches have taken every opening in the recruiting window and flew through it. The Buffs closed hard lost year after Chiaverini was brought on board bringing in 4 of their Top 6 2016 commitments after he was brought on board.
The 2017 haul has already begun with CU landing two of the top 10 in-state kids in Jon Van Diest and Dante Sparaco on February 28th. In the month of April, two 4-star wide receivers being recruited by Chiaverini in Jaylon Jackson and Laviska Shenault have committed to play ball in Boulder starting in 2017. While it is early and you never know if a commit holds, the simple fact is these two are the highest rated commits CU has had in many years (with apologies to similarly rated Shay Fields, Tim Lynott and Beau Bisharat), especially this early in the process. The number of high 3 star to 4 star recruits even mentioning CU in their top dozen is something CU has not seen in the past decade. The fact a program that has had 10 straight losing seasons is garnering interest and gaining steam is tied to two things to me: Facility Upgrades and an approach to go after the best recruits and get them interested in CU Football. The offer lists aren't MWC laden, the guys on CUs radar that are heavily considering the Buffs have legit Power 5 conference offers. Not just another school or two.
It is a great start for recruiting in 2017 and to generate buzz for the 2016 season. This summer's June camp should add a few more commits and continue to get the steam rolling. The main question still centers on 2016. If 2016 is a copy of the previous two seasons, it doesn't matter what this staff does on the recruiting trail, there will be questions that can no longer be answered and Rick George will have to figure out what direction to take the football program in. Either way, I see Chiaverini being a long term plan at CU with his tenacity as a coach and recruiter.
Speaking Rick George, the simple fact is he has done everything you could ask of him as an athletic director. He has made changes in head coaches in two sports that haven't met his expectations in volleyball and women's basketball and he has spearheaded his main initial goal and secondary goal: generate fundraising into a program that had never raised more than $15 million in a single year and help build a top end athletic facility. With the Buffs putting on the finishing touches of their athletic facility upgrades that have transformed the northeast side of the stadium and just eat of the stadium with an indoor practice facility and soon-to-be complete outdoor practice facility adjacent to the stadium, the Buffs have transformed Folsom Field and it's surroundings.
As of two months ago, the Drive for $105 Million ($85 million capital with $20 million in endowment) had reached $66.15M and $28M respectively with a total of $94.2M. The university had set incentives in Rick George's contract to meet those fundraising goals with the total $105 million to be met no later than June 30, 2018 to achieve the final incentive. They were $15M June 2014 ($50k), $25M June 2015 ($100k), $50M June 2016 ($150k), $75M June 2017 ($200k), $100M June 2018 ($250k). Rick George appears to have been underestimated by the university considering he will most likely reach his 2018 incentive goal almost two year ahead of schedule. The $166 Million facilities upgrade will most likely not be George's last task or fundraising effort unless someone finds a way to woo him elsewhere. The work being done by Rick George has not been unnoticed with his home state and alma mater University of Illinois showing great interest in George and him turning down the chance there to remain in Boulder. Rick George has done everything asked of him and more at CU and even with his exciting hire in summer 2013 (George takes AD Job Running), the relentlessness of his constant pursuit to make anything he heads (Senior PGA/Champions Tour, Texas Rangers COO, President/CEO Fore!Kids Foundation, etc.) improve tenfold from when he started on it has continued. CU Athletics is also on the RISE due to his leadership and vision, not just the money he is helping to generate.
The Buffs have struck gold with hires of Rick George as AD to the additions of Jim Leavitt, Joe Tumpkin and now Darrin Chiaverini. Let's hope 2016 it all ties in to seeing CU have it's most successful football season since the Barnett era at CU. CU is on the RISE!
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