Steve Addazio out as Colorado State football coach after just 16 games

Addazio’s buyout was $5 million until Thursday, when it dropped to $3 million.

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CSU athletic director Joe Parker hired Addazio in December 2019, less than two weeks after he was fired after his seventh season leading Boston College.

His career record is now 61-67 in 11 seasons as a head coach at Temple, Boston College and CSU. He’s 32-51 all-time in conference play.

Parker, along with CSU president Joyce McConnell, relied heavily on the input of Urban Meyer (a former CSU assistant) in the search. Addazio was formerly an assistant under Meyer.

The school first reached an agreement with Butch Jones before backing out late in the process due to Title IX concerns from his time at Tennessee.

It was a tumultuous two years for Addazio at CSU. The COVID-19 pandemic hit shortly after his hire, and football operations shut down in the middle of his first spring practice early in 2020.

Complaints from members of the football program regarding violations of COVID-19 protocols and racial insensitivity prompted an investigation into the football program and athletic department later in 2020.

The 2020 football season was initially postponed by the Mountain West due to the spread of COVID-19 before the league ultimately opted for a shortened eight-game season. The Rams ended up playing only four games. Three were cancelled due to COVID-19 issues with teams (two due to the opponent and one due to CSU), and the last game was forfeited by Utah State due to a player boycott.

missed a go-ahead kick. Addazio placed the blame on players after the game.Addazio was ejected in the second quarter. He was just the second FBS head coach in the last five years to be ejected from a game.

The 36,500-seat Canvas Stadium was virtually empty by the end of that game, and social media was aflame with anger from CSU fans.

Addazio replaced Mike Bobo, who went 28-35 in five seasons with the Rams before he was let go after the 2019 season.

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