"Rest In Peace": Coach Prime pays warm tribute to legendary Colorado coach Bill McCartney after his death

Colorado Buffaloes has won only one NCAA championship in its history. That came under former football coach Bill McCartney, who died Friday night at age 84. The community is mourning the loss of their beloved head coach, who spent 13 seasons (1982-94) at the helm of the program.

Current head coach Deion Sanders also joined as he paid tribute to coach Mac through a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"Rest in peace," he wrote.

He also attached some pictures where he paid a heartfelt tribute to the winningest Colorado coach.

"Coach Mac was an absolute legend on and off the field," Sanders wrote. "He took CU to the top of college football, and he is fully ingrained in every fiber of the history of this program. I first knew of his impact through becoming close with several former Buffs throughout my NFL career.

"He produced great football players but even better men. I was honored to have the opportunity to meet Coach Mac after I became the head coach, and his passion for CU was evident. The thing I admire most about Coach Mac is that he was unapologetically himself. Many of the characteristics he valued are what we are using to get this program back to the level he attained."

Colorado AD visited Bill McCartney last week, recalls his legacy

CU athletic director Rick George visited Bill McCartney last week, as he recalled the beloved coach's legacy in Boulder both on and off the field.

"Coach Mac was an incredible man who taught me about the importance of faith, family and being a good husband, father and grandfather. He instilled discipline and accountability to all of us who worked and played under his leadership," George said via school's website. "The mark that he left on CU football and our athletic department will be hard to replicate."

Interestingly, George started his journey with Colorado in 1987 after being hired as a recruiting coordinator by McCartney.

In 13 seasons coaching at Boulder, McCartney was named Big 8 Coach of the Year three times, including the year 1990, when they defeated Notre Dame in the Orange to lift the program's only national title in football.