Deion Sanders has added two more former NFL players to Colorado’s coaching staff, bringing in Pierson Prioleau and Xavier Adibi as defensive quality control analysts.
The pair arrives with a familiar connection: both worked at Virginia Tech under new Colorado defensive coordinator Chris Marve. Prioleau, a former NFL safety, and Adibi, a former NFL linebacker, are the latest pieces in a staff overhaul that has already seen several notable departures.
Prioleau’s employment offer lists a salary of $100,000 per year. Adibi will make $85,000 annually.
Prioleau, 48, had been Virginia Tech’s safeties coach under Marve in 2024, while Adibi, 41, served as the Hokies’ associate linebackers coach that season. Marve was later fired after the 2024 regular season, when Virginia Tech finished 6-6.
Prioleau also brings a championship ring to Boulder. He won a Super Bowl with the New Orleans Saints for the 2009 season. Adibi was a fourth-round draft pick of the Houston Texans in 2008.
The hires continue a busy rebuilding of Sanders’ staff after Colorado finished 3-9 last season. Sanders has been clear about how he feels about the group he’s assembled.
“This is the best coaching staff I’ve had,” Sanders said at Big 12 Conference media days in Texas July 7.
Marve’s move to Colorado came in February, when he was promoted from linebackers coach after Robert Livingston left to join the Denver Broncos. Colorado also brought in a new offensive coordinator, Brennan Marion, who replaced former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur.
The Buffaloes’ staff has had plenty of turnover. Pro Football Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk left in December to become head coach at Southern after one season as running backs coach, and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp also departed after two seasons.
Colorado had already added another former NFL player earlier this year. Former NFL and Ohio State safety Vonn Bell joined the staff in January under Livingston. Bell’s employment offer said he will be paid $100,000 annually as a quality control analyst, and he will coach safeties for the Buffs, who open the season Sept. 3 at Georgia Tech.
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