CUSportsNation Q&A: Darian Hagan on being retained, future as a coach
Colorado running backs coach Darian Hagan goes one-on-one with CUSportsNation.com to discuss being retained at Colorado, the current running back situation at CU, and his future as a coach.
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Walk us through the process of you being retained at Colorado. How quickly did that come together?
Hagan: “When coach got hired, he brought every coach on staff into his office. He gave us 15 minutes to pretty much self yourself – tell him who you were, what you did, and if you wanted to be there. If you didn’t want to be there, that was fine as well. I told him I’ve been here as a player, coach, and administrator. It’s place that I love and dear to my heart, and if I could, I’d love to be retained. Two days later, he told me I was good.”
What have been your thoughts about working with Mel Tucker, Jay Johnson, and the other new coaches at Colorado?
Hagan: “Recruiting is very structured and required of you to go out and grind. Football, we haven’t even touched the surface yet. However, you can tell Coach Tucker and Coach Johnson have a plan in place in order for us to succeed with the great talent we have in place.”
You guys signed two running backs in December in Joshia Davis and Jaren Mangham. What do they bring to the team?
Hagan: “Both of those guys are every down backs and big bruising backs. Mangham is a little bit heavier and a bit more diverse, but at the same time, Joshia isn’t a cupcake. Both of those guys I can see doing a lot as true freshmen. We don’t have the luxury of sitting those guys back and redshirting them and letting them watch. They’re going to have to contribute and grow up fast.”
Alex Fontenot, Jarek Broussard, and Deion Smith are pretty much unknowns at this point. What do you expect from these guys moving forward?
Hagan: “Deion and Jarek are really dynamic football players. They really didn’t have a shot to play last year because they were coming off knee injuries that they sustained in playoff games. They weren’t going to be ready, but if you asked them, they were ready. Both of those guys will be ready this year. And Alex Fontenot, he’s a special running back. He can do it all. He has really good speed, vision, and balance. In pass protection, he understands it – he attacks the defender. At any point last year, if Travon would’ve went down, Alex would’ve been the guy.”
Beau Bisharat will play his final season at Colorado. What will we see from him? Mel Tucker seems to like big running backs.
Hagan: “Everything is in Beau’s corner. If he decides he wants the job, then go get it. He’s a really good back. He has everything that everyone else has – good vision, good balance, he runs behind his pads. Beau is a great young man and good player and it’s my job to help him put it all together. He can probably have a future in the NFL.”
What areas will be your focus on the recruiting front?
Hagan: “Right now, I’ve got Dallas, Los Angeles, and Colorado. I think if they add me back into Houston, we can do some things. I was starting to get some good traction in Houston.”
Are you surprised at all by the success Phillip Lindsay has had in the NFL?
Hagan: “No, I’m not surprised. Phillip has always had a chip on his shoulder. When he was at CU, he had a chip on his shoulder. He had a great career at CU, and then when he went to the Broncos, he called me up and said, ‘Coach, the Broncos want to sign me.’ I said, ‘What’re you gonna do?’ He goes, ‘I don’t know man. Those guys could’ve drafted me and they didn’t.’ I said, ‘Look, that’s over with. Don’t worry about not getting drafted. Now you have an opportunity to go in and earn the job.’ He said, ‘You know what coach, that’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to beat everyone and take the job.’ And that’s what he did.”
Obviously, you're one of the greatest Buffs in school history and have been coaching with the program for a long time. That has to be very special to you. But at the same time, I'm sure you think about taking the next step in your coaching career. Do you put much thought into becoming an offensive coordinator somewhere?
Hagan: “I have not. I know if I put my mind to it, I could do it. I’m not worried about that. My thing is – I like doing what I’m doing. I like coaching running backs. I like my role at CU. I like being around the program. Internally, if something happened and Coach Tucker watched me work and grind and said he wanted me to be the offensive coordinator, I would jump in and do it. But that’s not something I’m seeking – to be an offensive coordinator or head coach. That stuff doesn’t make me who I am or fills my heart. My heart is making sure these young men are going to be good fathers, good husbands, and have great college experiences. That’s what I’m all about.”