Southern to hire Colorado RBs coach Marshall Faulk as next head coach

Southern is hiring Colorado running backs coach Marshall Faulk as its next head coach, On3’s Pete Nakos reports. The move comes after the program parted ways with second-year head coach Terrence Graves seven games into the season, following a 1-6 start.

Faulk, who was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player in 2000, was a member of the Super Bowl XXXIV championship St. Louis Rams team, and was a six-time All Pro, joined coach Deion Sanders‘ staff prior to the 2025 season. It marked his first foray into the coaching world.

With Faulk as Colorado‘s running backs coach this season, the Buffaloes ranked second to last in the Big 12 in rushing yards per game (123.3). Leading rusher Micah Welch boasts 364 yards and two touchdowns on 86 carries.

“You guys know (Coach Prime) in a different way than I know him,” Faulk said back in August. “We’ve been friends for many years. We worked together in television. We always talk just about the game and probably more about kids coming up in the game. How do you affect and make sure they come into the game the right way? He’s one of those way makers.”

“When you pay attention to kids that’s gonna leave this program and go to the next level, they’re gonna do it in a certain way and you’re gonna say, ‘Wow, they were coached by a guy who understands how to get it done.’ I identify with that.”

“So coming here not just to win games on the field, but to win the game off the field, which is to make sure that these young men in life become what they want to become outside of football. They become the father that they want to be, the brother, the husband. Making sure that they do that, that’s the important part. That was attractive.”

Faulk now takes over a program that is just 26-32 over the past five seasons. The Jaguars participate in the Southwestern Athletic Conference, which they haven’t won since 2013.