Colorado special teams coordinator Trevor Reilly leaves Deion Sanders' staff before 2024 season

Ahead of his second season with the Buffaloes, Colorado special teams coordinator Trevor Reilly stepped away from the program and Deion Sanders‘ staff ahead of fall camp according to Colorado Buffaloes beat writer Brian Howell. On3’s Pete Nakos has also confirmed the news.

Reilly’s reasoning behind his departure from Boulder is unknown, but he will not be at the helm for Colorado’s special teams units for the 2024 season. Ending his three-year partnership with Sanders and opening up a staff vacancy for recently hired assistant George Helow.

Reilly got his coaching career started at his Alma mater Utah, where he served as a student-assistant coach for three years starting in 2018. But in an attempt to advance in the coaching landscape and take on more responsibility, he joined Sanders’ staff as a graduate assistant Jackson State in 2021.

Reilly notably joined the staff as a volunteer, bought a car on Craigslist, and drove to Jackson, Mississippi from Atlanta during a snowstorm to join the Tigers before their first game of the season against Edward Waters. A part of the Tigers staff for two seasons where they took home back-to-back Southwestern Athletic Conference titles with an undefeated record in league play and a 23-3 overall record.

“Any young coach who thinks they want to become a college coach should be required to spend a year volunteering at an HBCU football program,” Reilly said. “It doesn’t matter what level it is, D1, D2, D3 … Because there’s so many issues that come up that you would not think would be an issue at any other place or situation.”

When Sanders made the move to become Colorado’s head coach ahead of the 2023 season Reilly came with him, promoted to special teams coordinator in the transition. With Colorado finishing within the top 35 in the nation in kickoff return yardage and net punting along with a No. 38 finish in punt return yardage.

Reilly played college football at Utah, a standout linebacker who recorded 235 total tackles, 37 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, and two interceptions in his 48 game appearances for the Utes. Highlighted by a breakout senior season where he earned First-Team All-Pac-12 honors and a First-Team All-American selection from Bleacher Report after racking up 100 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, and 8.5 sacks.

He took his talents to the NFL following his college career, selected by the New York Jets with the No. 233 overall pick in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Also spending time with the New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins before joining the Salt Lake Stallions of Alliance of American Football and eventually transitioning to coaching.