Colorado has officially appointed Brennan Marion as the new offensive coordinator, a move announced by the school on Friday. Marion, who previously served as head coach at Sacramento State, is the architect of the innovative “Go-Go” offensive system. He replaces Pat Shurmur, whose contract expired following a challenging 3-9 season.
Marion’s appointment marks a significant shift for the Colorado Buffaloes, as he becomes the third offensive coordinator since Deion Sanders took the helm in 2023. Sanders initially hired Sean Lewis, who is now the head coach at San Diego State, before shifting the responsibilities to Shurmur for the 2024 season. Marion steps into a role where he will direct an offense featuring highly regarded quarterback Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis, aiming to revitalize a unit that finished near the bottom of the Big 12 in points and rushing yards last season.
Marion expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating, “Humbled to be sought out by the best to ever do it in football — Coach Prime. It’s my mission to make sure we put a great product on the field that the entire CU family can be proud of!” His offensive philosophy focuses on a run-oriented approach, utilizing creative formations to create advantageous matchups.
During his tenure at Sacramento State, Marion led the Hornets to a record of 7-5, with the team averaging nearly 34 points and 425.6 yards per game. The success was largely attributed to running back Rodney Hammond Jr., who averaged over 101 yards rushing per game. This performance is a stark contrast to Colorado’s previous season, where the offense averaged just 20.9 points and 125.6 rushing yards.
Marion’s coaching career includes a successful stint as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UNLV, where he led the Rebels to two bowl games. Under his guidance, UNLV set a program record by scoring 40 or more points in six games during the 2023 season, finishing in the top ten nationally for third-down conversions and red-zone efficiency.
His coaching experience also includes a role at the University of Texas, where he served as passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach under Steve Sarkisian. There, he mentored standout players like Xavier Worthy, currently with the Kansas City Chiefs, and Jordan Addison, who won the Biletnikoff Award and was selected in the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings.
As Colorado prepares for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on Marion to see how he implements the “Go-Go” offense and develops a competitive edge for the Buffaloes. With a strong track record of innovation and success, Marion aims to transform Colorado’s offensive strategy into one that excites fans and elevates the program’s performance on the field.
