Deion Sanders explains why he wants to be remembered as Coach Prime: 'My tank is full'

Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders will be long remembered for his exploits as an athlete. A Hall of Fame football player that many regard as the best cornerback of all time who also played baseball at the highest level in the MLB during his NFL career.

But as he enters his second season at the helm for the Buffaloes, he wants to be remembered more for his coaching career than his playing career. Aiming to be known more so as Coach Prime than Primetime the player when it’s all said and done.

“I ain’t aiming, I’m here,” Sanders told Joel Klatt in a recent interview.

Sanders inherited a Colorado program that was on the brink of irrelevancy before he arrived after posting a 1-11 record. But in his first season with the team last year, the Buffs improved to 4-8 and became one of the most talked about topics in college football. With Coach Prime believing he and the program have all the tools to achieve his goals in the profession.

“It’s a multiplicity of things that has to transpire,” Sanders said. “You gotta be successful in what we call success. You gotta be present, you don’t have to be perfect, you just gotta be present. And you got to provoke change, and I have the autonomy and the ability to accomplish all three simultaneously and we’re doing it.”

There’s no question that Sanders is doing things his own way. Whether it’s his unique style and panache he’s added to the Colorado program off the field or his unorthodox roster-building strategy through the transfer portal in two straight offseasons. But his confidence regarding his coaching legacy has a lot to do with how many years he believes he has ahead of him.

“And it’s on me how long I want to do it, and my tank is full. I mean I’m full, I’m behind the F. You know how some cars it’s E? I’m just leaning behind the F I’m so full,” Sanders said referring to the fuel level gauge on a car. “I’m still hitting the thing and the gas is still coming out I’m so full, and I love it.”

Sanders retired from football in 2005 around the time that many of his current players were born or were infants. Revealing that many already see him more so as a coach than a former player.

“And it’s getting to that point now like some people, especially kids, they don’t know me as Prime the football player Primetime. They know me as Coach Prime and I like that because a coach has this connotation man that he’s helping you get to where you need to go to and he’s like a live navigational system,” Sanders explained.

It’s clear that Sanders has a passion for coaching, spending several years as a high school head coach and at FCS Jackson State before making the jump to Colorado. And given his pedigree and accomplishments as a former player, it would be beyond impressive if his status as a head coach ever rivaled that of his playing career.

But according to Coach Prime, we’ll have plenty of time to see if can make that happen.