Source: David Kelly set to join Deion Sanders, Colorado staff

On3’s Josh Newberg reported Monday that former FAU Coordinator of Player Personnel David Kelly is set to join new Colorado head coach Deion Sanders’ coaching staff.

“A source tells me that former FAU Coordinator of Player Personnel David Kelly is being hired at Colorado and expected to serve in a similar role for head coach Deion Sanders in Boulder,” said Newberg. “I’m told Kelly was on campus on Monday meeting with Colorado’s off-field recruiting staff.”

Kelly would bring over 30 yards of experience to Colorado’s staff, with stops at Georgia, Oregon, LSU, Georgia Tech, UCF, and others in both coaching and player personnel roles.

“David Kelly served as a recruiting coordinator/player personnel director for Willie Taggart at USF, Oregon, Florida State and FAU,” Newberg said.

WATCH: Deion Sanders personally tells Jackson State players he accepted Colorado coaching job

Ahead of announcing that he had accepted the Colorado coaching position, Deion Sanders shared his decision with his Jackson State players. The coach spoke at length with his players about his choice to leave the program for a Division I school, and shared his thoughts and recommendation for how the program will proceed after his departure.

Sanders spoke with his team following their 43-24 win over Southern in the SWAC Championship Game on Saturday, and the video of him telling his players gave a rare look at a difficult conversation that happens occasionally in college sports.

Deion sanders tells his Jackson state football team he has officially accepted the job as Colorado next head football coach pic.twitter.com/0XviDdcem4

— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) December 4, 2022

While explaining his decision, Sanders told his team that he wanted them to hear it directly from him before hearing it from somewhere else. He then quickly addressed the idea of players heading to the NCAA Transfer Portal with him leaving, cautioning that the portal was not an easy thing to navigate. Sanders went on to name T.C. Taylor as his pick to replace him as head coach.

“I’m not tired of fighting,” said Sanders about his decision. He pointed to his NFL Hall of Fame career as proof that change is a part of the sports world, as he played for five different teams despite being one of the best in the game.

Sanders continued by explaining to his team that part of his decision was to pave the way for Black head coaches in the coaching world — pointing to the exit of several Black coaches in the Division I ranks without knowing candidates other than himself as ready to take their place.

Coach “Prime” went 27-5 in his head coaching tenure at Jackson St. and landed some of the nation’s top recruits, and he has already begun recruiting staff and players to Colorado. Sanders finished his message to the team by assuring them they were the first people to learn about his decision, joking that he didn’t even tell his own mom because “she can’t hold water” and keep the secret.

On3’s Austin Brezina contributed to this report