Deion Sanders posts heartfelt tribute to legendary Colorado coach Bill McCartney

After legendary Colorado coach Bill McCartney passed away Friday, Deion Sanders released a statement. Sanders took to social media to post a heartfelt tribute to the only coach to lead the Buffaloes to a national title.

McCartney died at the age of 84 following a battle with dementia, his family announced. He made his mark at Colorado in the 1980s and 1990s, winning three straight Big Eight titles and leading the Buffaloes to their lone national championship in 1990.

Sanders reflected on “Coach Mac’s” impact at Colorado prior to his retirement at age 54. Coach Prime said McCartney’s imprint remains on the program, and he’s trying to follow that example as he continues building the Buffaloes.

Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/CJdNX0F6vr

— COACH PRIME (@DeionSanders) January 11, 2025

“Coach Mac was an absolute legend on and off the field,” Sanders wrote. “He took CU to the top of college football and he is fully ingrained in every fiber of the history of this program. I first knew of his impact becoming close with several former Buffs throughout my NFL career. He produced great football players but better men.

“I was honored to have the opportunity to meet Coach Mac after I became the head coach and his passion for CU was evident. The thing I admire most about Coach Mac is that he was unapologetically himself. Many of the characters he valued are what we are using to get this program back to the level he attained.”

Bill McCartney amassed a 93-55-5 record in Boulder, including a 58-29-4 mark in Big Eight play. Colorado was his only head coaching job as he retired at the age of 54 following the 1994 season.

McCartney started his coaching career at Michigan as an assistant under Bo Schembechler from 1974-81. He then took over at Colorado in 1982 and put together a storied run with the Buffaloes until his retirement in 1994.

Coach Mac built Colorado from the ground up, starting with a 2-8-1 record in his first year as head coach in 1982. By 1985, he had the Buffaloes in a bowl game with a 7-5 record. Then, in 1988, they rattled off a run of seven straight 8-win seasons – including three straight Big Eight titles from 1989-91.

Colorado went 11-1 in 1989, but reached the mountaintop in 1990. The Buffaloes went 11-1-1 that year and defeated Notre Dame in the Orange Bowl to secure the only national championship in program history. McCartney was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2013.