FORT WORTH, Texas — There isn’t any getting round it: It is bizarre to see Corey Coleman in purple.
Once I visited Coleman on the TCU facility, practically all of the lights have been off because the workplace cleared out for spring break. Coleman sat alone in his cubicle grinding, his purple Nike “Horned Frogs” pullover the polar reverse of the inexperienced and gold that made him well-known.
In March, the legendary former Baylor broad receiver crossed enemy traces by accepting the assistant broad receivers coach job at TCU. He’ll lead a large receiver room set to supply its third and fourth NFL Draft picks since 2023. Led by Kendal Briles, the Horned Frogs run an offense practically similar to the one he starred in as a participant with the Bears.
“I’ve a complete lot of fellows that I am pals with from TCU, and everybody’s like, ‘oh yeah you belong within the purple,'” Coleman informed CBS Sports activities with fun. “It is all enjoyable and video games. Everybody was like, whoa. You look on my Instagram and everybody’s like, that is loopy. It was loopy for me for just a little bit, however that is the place God needed me to be.”
Again in Coleman’s day, Baylor-TCU was some of the heated rivalries in faculty soccer — and it got here with critical nationwide implications. Coleman hauled in eight catches for 144 yards and two touchdowns within the Bears’ 61-58 comeback victory in 2014, thought of some of the memorable video games within the historical past of the rivalry. The subsequent 12 months, he outlasted TCU receiver Josh Doctson to win the Biletnikoff Trophy.
TCU bought the final giggle, although. The final time Coleman stepped foot at Amon Carter Stadium, Baylor was held to solely 62 passing yards in a rain-soaked 28-21 loss that locked the Bears out of the nationwide championship image. TCU operating again Aaron Inexperienced, who now works for this system as assistant director of participant personnel, had 72 yards dashing within the double-overtime win.
“We have been form of similar with our make-up,” Inexperienced mentioned. “We have been two small non-public colleges preventing for the nationwide highlight at the moment, and we have been constructed very equally with 80-90% of our groups from the state of Texas… We joke lots. We’re aggressive individuals who respect and admire what the opposite particular person was capable of accomplish within the sport.”
After spending practically a decade taking part in skilled soccer, Coleman was prepared for his subsequent problem. He owned a number of companies and labored as a coach, however he additionally talked to employees about alternatives. Briles had a gap on the employees and rapidly reached out. After assembly with the administration, Coleman was an ideal match.
Ever since Sonny Dykes took over at TCU in 2022, the Frogs’ teaching ranks have been affected by members of the mid-2010s Baylor staffs. Power coach Kaz Kazadi got here with Dykes from SMU, and offensive coordinator Kendal Briles joined in 2023. Randy Clements and Brian Norwood have been added this offseason.
Baylor coach Dave Aranda has returned the favor. Legendary TCU coach Gary Patterson was employed by the rival faculty in 2024. Longtime Frogs assistants Paul Gonzalez and Jarrett Anderson adopted. The ties run deep.
However there isn’t any hiding it, Coleman’s title means one thing totally different as some of the profitable gamers within the historical past of the rivalry. Even a decade later, gamers within the broad receiver room – particularly these from the state of Texas – keep in mind Coleman’s legendary faculty profession and wish him to speak concerning the double-cut vs. West Virginia or leap ball TD in opposition to Kansas State.
“I do not really feel that previous, I am not that previous, however we’re coping with 20 12 months olds,” Coleman mentioned. “They’re all like, coach, are you able to play your highlights? It is wonderful the younger guys we’ve got within the room, they’re so nice, so aggressive, however I am like, let’s make you some highlights and get you to the following step.”
Former gamers are all the time a profit on staffs, however broad receivers have particularly develop into helpful commodities. TCU broad receivers coach Malcolm Kelly was an All-Large 12 receiver at Oklahoma earlier than touchdown with the Horned Frogs. Making it to the NFL as a primary spherical choose buys credibility. Paying on this offense additionally permits Coleman to go alongside some ideas and methods to raise the unit.
Coleman’s position might show important because the Horned Frogs hope to construct on final 12 months’s 9-4 exhibiting. Three of the crew’s high 4 pass-catchers are off to the NFL, leaving solely former Boise State switch Eric McAlister. TCU added switch studs in Jordan Dwyer (Idaho) and Joseph Manjack (Houston), however the unit needs to be coached up if it desires to copy a high 10 nationwide go offense from 2024.
“I actually simply wish to carry on evolving and elevating as a coach and studying as a lot as I can to assist develop younger gamers, not simply on the sphere however to groom them as males too,” Coleman mentioned. “It is simply been a tremendous journey. With teaching, I believe the sky is the restrict.”
If Coleman’s receivers can ship, TCU has the items in place to compete for a Large 12 title and School Soccer Playoff berth. Sarcastically, a house sport in opposition to Baylor on Oct. 18 might outline the season. It simply may develop into an important Baylor-TCU matchup since Coleman was on the opposite sideline.
“On the finish of the day, we’re all on the identical crew now,” Inexperienced mentioned. “It is fairly cool to work collectively after competing in opposition to one another for thus lengthy. Now we’re all working collectively for a standard purpose.”
