August 14th 2024.
It's been a while since he's been back in Boulder, but the memories still linger in his mind. The way the Flatirons would greet him each evening, almost like an old friend. He misses the camaraderie and brotherhood he shared with his teammates on the Buffs, a bond that he knows will last a lifetime. And let's not forget his beloved Pasta Jay's, a place that holds a special place in his heart.
Darian Hagan, a CU legend and now the running backs coach at San Diego State, recently shared with me over the phone how much he misses his time at CU. He even took his son there this summer for some good old-fashioned daddy duties, and it quickly became their go-to spot. "That place was awesome," he reminisced.
But it's not just the memories of the place that he misses, it's the people. Hagan fondly remembers the players he coached, who became like family to him. In fact, just last week, former CU star and Broncos Pro Bowler Phillip Lindsay called into Hagan's position meeting to give some words of encouragement to the current Aztec backs. "You guys have got to respect Coach Hagan," Lindsay said. "He's like a father to me. Listen to him, he'll coach you up. Any questions?" Of course, the players had plenty.
Hagan also misses the game-day atmosphere at CU, with Ralphie on the turn and Mark Johnson's voice booming through the stadium. This is the first August in 21 years that he's not coaching Buffs players or rallying CU alums. But he has no regrets. "If you want to grow in this profession, you can't stay in the same place forever," Hagan explained. "You have to adapt to life and its changes."
Speaking of changes, Hagan was recently hired at San Diego State, following former CU offensive coordinator Sean Lewis, who is now the Aztecs' head coach. Hagan can't comment on why Lewis and Deion Sanders parted ways, but he did shed some light on his own position with the team. When Team Sanders arrived in December 2022, Hagan, the incumbent running backs coach, was essentially demoted to an off-field role as executive director for community engagement and outreach. "Deion and I were in the same building," Hagan recalled. "We exchanged pleasantries a few times, but other than that, we didn't really interact much."
But Hagan has no hard feelings towards Sanders and is grateful for the opportunity to continue coaching and impacting young men at SDSU. He's also formed a friendship with Lewis, who had to pass by Hagan's office every day to get to CU's practice. The two struck up conversations and eventually, Lewis reached out to Hagan as he was building his inaugural staff at SDSU.
Hagan's family is still in Boulder, while he's living in a small apartment near the beach. But he doesn't mind, as he's usually at the football facility from sunup to sundown. "You could save money just crashing at the facility," he joked. "I even have an air mattress in my car just in case I need to spend the night there."
He may be far from home, but Hagan is dedicated to his new team and their goal of turning the program around. Lewis' offense is a far cry from the conservative style that SDSU had become known for. But Hagan is confident that the players will adapt well to the fast-paced, high-scoring style of play.
Despite the changes and challenges, Hagan is embracing his new role and is excited to see where it takes him. And although he may now be wearing red instead of black and gold, he still holds a special place in his heart for CU. "Coach Mac always told me, 'Always be good, be respectful, and have the wherewithal to understand to be always where your feet are currently,'" Hagan shared. "I've turned over a new leaf and I'm embracing it."
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