Moving on up

Cabral promoted to associate head coach

Linebackers coach Brian Cabral was recently promoted to associate head coach, and Athletic Director Mike Bohn said it could be a step on the way to the head coaching position one day.

The surprise announcement was made by head football coach Dan Hawkins during the annual football luncheon in Denver on Feb. 8.

“I thought the promotion was a good way to for us to recognize what he means to the program,” Hawkins said. “Sometimes people just hand out titles, and they don’t mean anything. Coach Cabral brings a tremendous amount of leadership to the program.”

Cabral previously held the position of assistant head coach under former head football coach Gary Barnett and he has also coached under former CU head coaches Bill McCartney and Rick Neuheisel.

Bohn said the promotion is a good step for the football program.

“He has had over 20 years of association with CU,” Bohn said. “The coaches really recognize that.”

He has been part of the CU football program since 1974 when he was a freshman linebacker on the team. During his time as a player, he lettered three years, was a team captain and helped lead CU to a Big 8 championship in 1976.

After graduating from CU, he played in professional football for nine years and won a Super Bowl in 1985 as a Chicago Bear.

While that experience is helpful, Bohn said his CU experience plays a major role in his success as a coach.

“The easy thing about Brian is that he played here,” Bohn said. “It really allows for his passion for CU to come out on a day-to-day basis, and it reflects on the men he has coached at CU who have gone on to the pros.”

Before his promotion, there was word of Cabral possibly leaving CU for a head coaching job at another Division I university.

“I know Hawaii contacted him about the head coaching job there,” Hawkins said. “He has decided to stay here, and hopefully he will be the CU head coach one day.”

Even with his promotion, Cabral will still hold the linebackers coaching position, but he will also be overseeing more of the teams’ operations.

“I don’t feel that the promotion will change how he is as a coach,” said Brad Jones, a junior outside linebacker for the Buffs. “He’s a tough coach regardless of his title. Maybe now he’ll buy us a couple of meals with that pay raise.”

Coach Cabral could not be reached for comment.

Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Philip Fisher at Philip.Fisher@colorado.edu.