Colorado announced that it has hired former Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker as its new head coach. Here's what you need to know about Tucker.

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* 10 Key Quotes from Mel Tucker's Press Conference -- Mel Tucker's introductory press conference as Colorado's 26th head coach was about 40 minutes from start to finish. CUSportsNation.com breaks it down with 10 key quotes from the press conference. Continue reading here

* WATCH: Mel Tucker's first look at the Champions Center -- The Colorado social media and video team did a fantastic job putting together the video below of Mel Tucker and his family walking through the CU football facilities with athletic director Rick George. It's a must watch video! Click here to watch

* Recapping the day: Colorado hires Mel Tucker -- At 2:01 p.m. MT, the Colorado Buffaloes' Twitter account (@runralphierun) announced the news we've all been waiting for -- that Mel Tucker would be officially named head coach of the CU Buffs. Click here to continue reading

* What will Mel Tucker bring to Colorado? The Buffaloes have its 26th head football coach in Mel Tucker, the school announced today. Tucker, who is a 46-year-old Cleveland, Ohio native, spent the past three seasons as the defensive coordinator at the University of Georgia in Athens. Continue reading here

* Current Colorado coaches that Mel Tucker should consider keeping -- New Colorado head coach Mel Tucker's staff will consist of a majority of new coaches. Heck, he may not even retain any of the current Buffs' staffers. But in our mind, here are a few coaches that Tucker should consider keeping in Boulder. Continue reading here

* 5 things to know about Colorado head coach Mel Tucker -- Colorado's next head coach is coming from the Southeastern Conference, as Georgia defensive coordinator Mel Tucker will be roaming the sidelines in Boulder, Colo. Check out five things to know about the Buffaloes' new head man. Continue reading here

* Mel Tucker hired as Colorado Head Football Coach -- Mel Tucker, who has spent the last three years as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Georgia, has been named the 26th full-time head football coach at the University of Colorado, athletic director Rick George announced Wednesday. Continue reading here

1997-1998 - Michigan State (Graduate Asst.)

1999 - Miami Ohio (Defensive backs)

2000 - LSU (Defensive backs)

2001-2003 - Ohio State (Defensive backs)

2004 - Ohio State (Co-Defensive coordinator)

2005-2007 - Cleveland Browns (Defensive backs)

2008 - Cleveland Browns (Defensive coordinator)

2009-2011 - Jacksonville Jaguars (Defensive coordinator | Interim head coach in 2011)

2012 - Jacksonville Jaguars (Defensive coordinator)

2013-2014 - Chicago Bears (Defensive coordinator)

2015 - Alabama (Defensive backs)

2016-2018 - Georgia (Defensive Coordinator/Defensive backs)

BOULDER — Mel Tucker, who has spent the last three years as the defensive coordinator and secondary coach at the University of Georgia, has been named the 26th full-time head football coach at the University of Colorado, athletic director Rick George announced Wednesday.

George has proposed that CU's Board of Regents approve a five-year deal for Tucker worth $14.75 million of which the first-year salary would be $2.4 million and then increase by $275,000 annually, not including additional pay if any of several incentives in the contract are met. The Regents must approve Tucker's contract, which campus leaders hope to present for their consideration at their Dec. 12 special meeting in Denver.

Tucker will begin work immediately and will not coach Georgia in the Sugar Bowl against Texas on New Year's Day.

"Colorado has always been a place that I thought should be relevant in the national championship conversation year-in and year-out, because of its tradition and a seemingly endless list of what the school has to offer," Tucker said. "What we have to offer are some of the best facilities in the country, strong academics, and an amazing environment as a whole. Colorado should be a 'no excuse' program. There's absolutely no reason we can't achieve success at an extremely high level.

"I can remember when Colorado was dominant with players like Kordell Stewart, Rashaan Salaam, Chris Hudson, Darian Hagan, Alfred Williams and others," Tucker continued. "Colorado always had difference makers and was very dynamic on both sides of the ball. That's the imprint instilled in my mind when it came to CU. My plan is to continue to restore that tradition and make sure that Colorado once again becomes an elite national program. There's not a better place in America to live, to coach and go to school."

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Mel Tucker, assistant head coach and defensive backs coach at the University of Alabama and former NFL defensive coordinator, was named UGA defensive coordinator and secondary coach on January 12, 2016.

Tucker was part of a 2017 staff that led the Bulldogs to a record-tying 13 victories, first SEC championship since 2005, first appearance in the College Football Playoff, first appearance (and victory over Oklahoma) in the Rose Bowl CFP semi-final game, and first appearance in the College Football Playoff Championship Game. Georgia’s defense finished second in the SEC and 6th nationally in Scoring Defense (16.4 ppg), 2nd in the SEC and 6th nationally in Total Defense (294.9 ypg), and 2nd in the SEC in Rushing Defense.

In his first year at UGA, Tucker guided a Bulldog defense that ranked among the nation’s top 20 units in the following categories: total defense, passing defense, turnovers gained, and first down defense.Tucker joined Nick Saban's staff at Michigan State as a graduate assistant in 1997. After two years there, he went to work as a defensive backs coach at Miami (Ohio) for one season in 1999. In 2000, Tucker returned to work with Saban at LSU for one season before going to Ohio State for a four-year stint (2001-04). The Buckeyes went 14-0 in 2002 and won the BCS National Championship. Tucker was elevated to co-defensive coordinator in 2004.

A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Tucker attended Cleveland Heights High School where he was a football standout and earned a scholarship to Wisconsin. He was a four-year letterman at defensive back for the Badgers and graduated in 1995.

Tucker's wife, JoEllyn, earned her undergraduate degree at Illinois and her law degree from Rutgers. The couple has two sons: Joseph (15) and Christian (13).

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