Colorado head football coach Karl Dorrell has put the finishing touches on his coaching staff for the 2022 season.
On Tuesday, CU announced that Phil McGeoghan has been hired as the new receivers coach. He was most recently the receivers coach for the NFL’s Los Angeles Chargers from 2018-20.
McGeoghan, 42, took the 2021 season off to care for health issues in his immediate family, according to a press release from CU.
McGeoghan is a 15-year coaching veteran and has known Dorrell for more than 20 years. After playing for the University of Maine, McGeoghan spent time playing for the Denver Broncos in 2001 and 2002, with Dorrell as his position coach.
“I first got to know Phil when he was on the roster with the Broncos and he was in my receivers room,” Dorrell said in a press release. “I remember him as a technician of the game, a very detail-oriented guy. He was someone who you felt that when he was done playing could become a really good coaching candidate in the profession. He’s done a reputable job at developing players wherever he’s been, and his body of work is very strong.”
Prior to his three seasons of coaching with the Chargers, McGeoghan coached receivers for the Buffalo Bills (2017), East Carolina University (2016), the Miami Dolphins (2012-15) and the University of South Florida (2009-11). He has also coached at Naval Academy Prep and Maine.
“Coach Dorrell was a very good teacher, he was very patient and knew how to develop his players through a positive and calming influence,” McGeoghan said of playing for Dorrell. “There were a lot of talented players in that room, and he always found the right way to reach every player. Many of us have remained very close to him for the remainder of our lives, someone we could always count on as we grew older and had families and needed advice, whether it was about our careers or our families. He was always someone who was sincere about caring greatly about his former players.
“I’m very excited about being reunited with coach. I believe it’s always a goal in life to be able to work for people who know you, trust you, and know what you can bring to the table every day. So it will be a privilege to work for a man who has integrity like Karl, who is obviously very passionate about football. I love the state of Colorado, so to be reunited with a very special man, in a very exceptional place, to take on a job that I am really excited about doing, it’s going to be special for our family.”
During his NFL career, McGeoghan has coached Keenan Allen and Mike Williams with the Chargers, and Jarvis Landry and Brian Hartline with the Dolphins. At ECU he coached Zay Jones, who now plays for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Allen and Williams were both 1,000-yard receivers in 2019. Jones was a first-team All-American while being coached by McGeoghan in 2016. That season, Jones led the nation in catches (158) and finished second in receiving yards (1,746).
McGeoghan will be one of six full-time assistants in their first season with CU as Dorrell has overhauled the 10-man staff this offseason.
Four of the five assistants on offense, including coordinator Mike Sanford, are new to the Buffs after CU had one of the worst offenses in the country last season. The only holdover is running backs coach Darian Hagan, who has been in that role since 2016.
In addition to McGeoghan and Sanford, CU has hired Rod Chance (cornerbacks), Kyle DeVan (offensive line), Clay Patterson (tight ends) and Vic So’oto (defensive line).
Defensive coordinator Chris Wilson remains but will now coach outside linebackers instead of the defensive line. Safeties coach Brett Maxie and inside linebackers coach Mark Smith are also returning.
