As a Colorado Buffalo for most of his life, Darian Hagan is practically allergic to the color red.
So, when he made the decision this week to accept a job as the running backs coach at San Diego State, he knew things would change.
“It’s the first time in my entire life that I’ve had to wear red on my body,” Hagan joked in an interview with BuffZone, referencing CU’s distaste for the primary color of long-time rival Nebraska.
SDSU is easing him in, though. On Tuesday, his first day on the job, he was given a tour of the facilities, including seeing the coaches’ locker room for the first time.
“They showed me all this gear that they had for me,” he said. “It’s the funniest thing: not one outfit in my locker was red. Every other coach had red shirts, red hat, red shoes. There wasn’t nothing in my locker that was red. I got a good laugh out of that.
“At some point I have to wear it.”
That’s part of a major life change that Hagan never expected but is embracing.
One of the greatest players in CU football history, Hagan quarterbacked the Buffaloes to their only national title, in 1990. Playing at CU from 1988-1991, he was a three-year starter, compiling a 28-5-2 record, including 20-0-1 in Big Eight games. He has the most wins of any quarterback in CU history and, as a sophomore, finished fifth in Heisman Trophy balloting.
A Los Angeles native, Hagan worked for CU’s Alumni C Club in the late 1990s and then returned to CU in 2004 to get into coaching. Until this week, he had been at CU ever since, including 12 seasons (2006-10 and 2016-22) as the running backs coach.
When CU hired Deion Sanders as head coach a year ago, Sanders retained Hagan, but not on the coaching staff. As most new coaches do, Sanders brought in his own staff, including running backs coach Gary Harrell. Hagan, who worked under seven head coaches at CU, was told he would have a role, but it took a while to define it.
In the spring, he was essentially an analyst, but said, “I was hands on with everything,” and still enjoyed being able to work with the players. Then, the spring ended and so did Hagan’s time on the field.
“I’m still at a loss,” he said. “I don’t know what transpired, but it was nothing that was ever told to me other than he wants to tighten up his circle.”
Hagan moved into an off the field position, where he was essentially an ambassador for the program. He would attend events that athletic director Rick George or other administrators couldn’t attend and spoke about the program with the community and donors.
“To have had the role I had was disheartening and it was a frustrating year for me,” Hagan said. “It was cool, but it wasn’t a role that I really loved.
“I don’t know what happened (after the spring), but I’ll tell you this: everything happens for a reason and the good Lord wanted me to be at San Diego State.”
In the spring, Hagan was able to work with then-CU offensive coordinator Sean Lewis. So, when Lewis was hired last week as SDSU’s head coach, he reached out to Hagan.
“He just saw my work ethic,” Hagan said. “He was seeing how dedicated I was, how I was with the kids and I think he filed it away and put it in the back of his head that if he was ever going to get another opportunity (as head coach) he would want me to be a part of his staff.”
Hagan and those around him figured he’d always be at CU, but to continue coaching he had to leave.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought that I wouldn’t still be at the University of Colorado,” he said. “I also thought I would be coaching while there.
“It’s exciting because now I’m reaching a whole different group of kids. It’s a group of players that I can touch that have never heard my story, have never heard the things that I’ve been through, things I’ve accomplished, and how genuine I am. I can help those guys on their life path because that’s what I do. I like to be around young men and watch them prosper and grow. I’ve coached some really good players and I’ve coached them to be really good, fundamentally sound players. That’s something that I miss, and I’m looking forward to being able to do that again.”
There’s also value in leaving the comfort zone, even if there is uneasiness about it.
“I’ve seen the CU way for so long and now I get a chance to see how the Aztecs do things,” he said. “It’s something that, it’s invaluable so I’m looking forward to those things as well.”
It’s a bonus that Lewis retained Aztecs cornerbacks coach Demetrius Sumler. From 2007-09, Sumler played running back at CU for Hagan, rushing for 714 yards and nine touchdowns.
“Having someone that knows me, knows who I am, knows how I operate, he’s a guy that I’ve always admired, as a coach and as a person,” Hagan said. “It’s going to be fun for me to be around him on a daily basis again.”
When the opportunity came about, Hagan was anxious about moving his family. But he spoke with his wife, Donnah Phipps, and youngest son, DeMari, who is 5 years old.
“They were super excited, so that eased my anxiety,” Hagan said.
And it helps that Hagan’s hometown will be just two hours away and that he has several family members in the Los Angeles area who are eager to have him near home again.
“They’re super excited,” Hagan said. “They never thought that I would leave the University of Colorado but (they said) whatever is best for me and my family I should do it. They also get a chance to see DeMari more.”
In fact, Hagan’s aunt, with whom he lived while in high school, told him she’s thrilled Hagan has this opportunity.
“Then,” Hagan said with a laugh, “She goes, ‘That’s enough of me talking about you. Get that little boy down here so I can see him.’”
