Colorado coordinator Charles Kelly reveals similarities in Deion Sanders, Nick Saban

With head coach Deion Sanders out recovering from surgery, Colorado Buffaloes‘ defensive coordinator Charles Kelly took on the press in his place at the Pac-12 Football Media Day. Kelly was hired by Sanders this offseason away from Alabama, where he was the Crimson Tide’s associate defensive coordinator and safeties coach.

At the Pac-12 Football Media Day, the Colorado defensive coordinator was asked about the similarities between his old boss, Nick Saban, and his new one. According to Kelly, there are more similarities than differences between the two head coaches.

Absolutely. First of all, let me say this: working for Coach Saban was great. It was an honor coaching for him,” opened Kelly. “You see things, and you look at things differently than maybe you did before. And he’s influenced so many coaches across this country. A lot of these guys that are head coaches right now they wouldn’t be where they’re at unless it was for coach Saban.”

The former Alabama associate defensive coordinator made sure to thank his former head coach for all the knowledge he bestowed on him prior to joining Sanders’ Colorado coaching staff. Kelly spent four seasons in Alabama under Saban, from 2019-2022. There, he was front and center for the Crimson Tide’s most recent national championship victory in 2020. So Kelly brings with him to Colorado championship-winning experience at the highest level.

Kelly on their similarities

As far as the similarities between Saban and Sanders go, Kelly sees two significant traits they have in common: One, they are both good people; the other, they both know how to set this standard in their respective programs.

That being said, there are a lot more similarities about Coach Saban and Coach Prime than there are differences. First of all, they are both very good men, and they have convection. So, when they believe in something, they fight for it. That’s a sign of a good person. And they tell you the truth. They tell you what is the truth. Not what you want to hear but what you need to hear. And, to me, they are very similar in that aspect.

The other thing is they have a way of setting the standard, and they are not going to deviate off that standard. That standard is the standard. So, they are not going to come off of it. And everybody that works with them is going to be the same way. And when the standard is the standard, and you’re a leader, and you bring people to that standard, that’s how you elevate your program. So those are the similarities that I see between Coach (Saban) and Coach Prime.

Saban’s ability to set the standard and the culture at Alabama has led to eight SEC titles, seven College Football Playoff appearances, six national championships, and a number of other accolades. If Sanders’ ability to set his standard is comparable to that of the Crimson Tide’s head man, it could mean big things for him, and the Colorado football program is on the horizon.