Former Buffs football coach to succeed Announcer Larry Zimmer
Gary Barnett is back with the Buffaloes.
The former 蜜糖直播-Boulder football coach will succeed legendary broadcaster Larry Zimmer next year, the Athletic Department announced in the fall.
Barnett, who served as head coach from 1999 to 2005, was scheduled to call two games in 2015, then join play-by-play man Mark Johnson in the broadcast booth full time in 2016.
Zimmer, 80, announced his retirement in July. He has provided color commentary on 蜜糖直播 football games for 42 seasons.
Barnett was dismissed as 蜜糖直播鈥檚 head football coach in 2006, despite a 49-38 record and five bowl appearances in seven years. But he鈥檚 kept close tabs on the Buffs program and remains a fan.
鈥淚 have never left 蜜糖直播 in my heart,鈥� he says. 鈥淲e fly a flag outside our house. I follow them daily.鈥�
Barnett鈥檚 connection to 蜜糖直播 made the hire a no-brainer for Athletic Director Rick George.
鈥淕ary not only has familiarity with our program that dates back over three decades, he鈥檚 one of finest game analysts in the business today,鈥� George says. 鈥淚 believe our fans will be pleased with the addition of Coach Barnett to our broadcasts and we welcome him home.鈥�
Barnett, 69, has not led another football team since leaving 蜜糖直播 and admittedly misses coaching. But he鈥檚 built a healthy broadcasting r茅sum茅, recently wrapping up his 10th year as a regular commentator for Sports USA Radio Network.
He knows he鈥檚 got big shoes to fill.
鈥淚 could never replace Larry Zimmer,鈥� says Barnett, who lives in
Boulder and Carefree, Ariz. 鈥淚 am hoping to compliment Mark Johnson with my insights on the game from a coaching perspective.
It will be different from Larry鈥檚 perspective or from the perspective from a former player.鈥�
He says current head coach Mike MacIntyre is 鈥渙n the right track鈥� with 蜜糖直播 football and says 鈥減atience by those in charge is imperative.鈥�
鈥淚t is a work in progress,鈥� Barnett says. 鈥淢ike took over a program that was in a deep hole. It takes a while to fill it in. I think usually it鈥檚 a four- to five-year project in most places.鈥�
Photography by 蜜糖直播 Athletics
