Deion Sanders Adds Former Nick Saban Assistant To Colorado Coaching Staff

The Colorado Buffaloes strengthened their defensive staff on Thursday by adding George Helow as senior defensive coach to aid defensive coordinator Robert Livingston, according to a report from Bruce Feldman .

Helow, 36, last coached inside linebackers on Jim Harbaugh's staff for the Michigan Wolverines from 2021-2022. The Ole Miss graduate mutually parted ways with UM in February of 2023 and did not coach last season.

Helow has been around some of the best defensive minds in the business, serving as a defensive intern for Nick Saban and Kirby Smart at Alabama during the Crimson Tide's 2012 national championship run. He also served under Jeremy Pruitt at Florida State during the Seminoles' national championship season in 2013. Helow went on to coach at Georgia as a defensive assistant working with safeties from 2014-15.

Additionally, the Jacksonville, Florida, native spent four seasons as a defensive assistant and later safeties coach at Colorado State (2016-19) before spending the 2020 season coaching special teams and inside linebackers at Maryland.

Colorado finished 130th out of 133 FBS teams in total defense last season, allowing 453.3 yards per game. It was an area largely responsible for the 4-8 season and last-place Pac-12 finish (1-8).

That led to major defensive staff moves ahead of the 2024 season, including hiring Livingston as coordinator, Damione Lewis to coach the defensive line and now Helow.

Sanders and the Buffaloes will open their first season in the Big-12 at home against North Dakota State on Aug. 29. Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. ET (ESPN).

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