With success comes opportunity.

Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders knew that his team’s success this season was going to lead to some of his assistants getting attention from other programs.

On Sunday, multiple media outlets reported that Mississippi State is taking two assistants from the Buffs: offensive line coach Phil Loadholt and defensive ends coach Vincent Dancy.

The news came less than 24 hours after the 20th-ranked Buffs (9-4) saw their season come to a close with a 36-14 loss to No. 17 BYU in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Saturday night.

“I’m pretty sure a couple of (coaches) are going to come in my office about elevation, because people are going to want them on their staffs,” Sanders said after the Alamo Bowl. “That’s what we’re here for. We’re here to advance people. Either you’re terminated or elevated; it’s going to be one of the two sooner or later.”

Loadholt came to CU on a one-year contract last offseason and this was his first full-time on-field coaching position. His contract was set to expire next month.

Although CU’s line struggled at times, particularly against BYU, the Buffs dealt with some injuries and transfer departures during the season. For the majority of the last two games, CU leaned on two walk-ons up front. Overall, CU reduced the number of sacks allowed this season under Loadholt.

A graduate of Fountain-Fort Carson High School, Loadholt was an eight-year NFL veteran with the Minnesota Vikings. Prior to coming to CU, he worked two seasons as an analyst at Oklahoma, two seasons as an analyst at Ole Miss and two seasons with Central Florida.

Dancy came to CU with Coach Prime before the 2023 season and worked that year as an analyst. Last offseason, he was given a two-year deal to be the defensive ends coach. He leaves CU with one year for $375,000 remaining on his contract. Per the terms of his contract, Dancy would owe CU 25% of his remaining contract in liquidated damages.

For Dancy, the move is a return home. He is a native of Shuqualak, Miss., located just 47 miles from the Mississippi State campus in Starkville, Miss.

Dancy has lived most of his life in Mississippi. He was a graduate of Jackson State and got his start in coaching at JSU from 2009-13. After one year (2014) at Paine College in Augusta, Ga., Dancy spent three years as the defensive coordinator at Mississippi Valley State (2015-17).

In 2018, Dancy was promoted to head coach at MVSU and spent five seasons leading the Delta Devils before coming to CU.

With Loadholt and Dancy leaving, Coach Prime will look to fill at least two positions this offseason. He may not have to look too far, though.

Graduate assistant Warren Sapp, a Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive tackle, could be a candidate to replace Dancy. Sapp worked closely with Dancy and defensive line coach Damione Lewis all season.

George Hegamin, who played offensive line for the Dallas Cowboys and spent this season on CU’s staff as director of leadership and engagement, could be a candidate to replace Loadholt. Hegamin worked with the linemen this year, as well. In 2012, he worked as the O-line coach for Sanders at the Prime Prep Academy and also spent time coaching the line at IMG Academy.