Man, if it ain’t one thing, it’s another in Boulder. Just when the Colorado Buffaloes thought they could finally catch their breath, boom — another unexpected shake-up. The program barely had time to process its last coaching departure before another key staff member packed his bags. And this one? It stings. This ain’t just some clipboard-holder walking out the door; this is a culture-setter, a tone-enforcer, one of Deion Sanders‘ guys. Colorado fans waking up to this news had to double-check their notifications like, “Wait, what?!”

On February 17th, Colorado wide receiver LaJohntay Wester took to Instagram stories with an emotional send-off for none other than assistant strength and conditioning coach Stephen Houston. “MY GUY COMING TO THE CRIB, CONGRATS FAM💯🔥🔥 “ Wester posted, confirming Houston’s next move: a new gig at FIU Panthers. And just like that, the Buffs lose another key figure from their strength and conditioning program. Houston, who operated under Maurice Sims, wasn’t just about lifting weights and running drills. He was about building warriors. Accountability, discipline, and an unbreakable mindset — that was his language. Now, the Buffs gotta figure out how to replace one of their foundational pieces. However, the contracts details are disclosed.

See, Stephen Houston ain’t your average strength coach. The man had his hands in everything. He worked across position groups, from the speedsters to the big boys in the trenches, and he was instrumental in getting injured players back in action through the “return to play” program. Players didn’t just respect him — they feared disappointing him. Miss a drill? Run it back. Walk when you should be running? Get ready for up-downs. Houston made sure everybody moved with purpose. And that type of mentality ain’t easy to replace.

His impact stretched beyond the weight room, too. Houston was all about creating a winning culture — something Coach Prime preaches daily. “The wins on the field are going to come, but you have to get the mentality first,” Houston said in Thee PreGame Show back in 2024. And he lived that. If a player wanted to slack, Houston made sure the entire squad felt it. No shortcuts. No excuses. That’s the type of standard that keeps programs from slipping into mediocrity. And now, the Buffs have to find a way of keeping that energy alive without one of their enforcers.

Before he was molding college athletes into straight savages, Houston was putting in work on the field himself. His college football resume is no joke. After balling out at Independence Community College in Kansas, he took his talents to Indiana, where he racked up 2,304 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. His NFL dream saw stops with the Patriots, Steelers, and Ravens, but after bouncing around practice squads, he transitioned to coaching. And that’s when he really started leaving his mark.

Houston’s been with Colorado since Deion Sanders arrived, helping build the foundation for the program’s rebirth. The Buffs’ strength staff has played a massive role in transforming a team that was an absolute doormat in 2022 into a squad that, at the very least, is no longer a laughingstock. Losing Houston now? That’s a gut punch.

Colorado Buffaloes’ coaching carousel keeps spinning

This ain’t the first staff shake-up for Colorado this offseason, and it sure as hell won’t be the last. Just last week, defensive line coach Damione Lewis dipped for Miami. And while losing Houston is rough, CU did make a high-profile hire, bringing in Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk as the new running backs coach. No, Faulk’s never coached before, but his football IQ is through the roof. Pair that with his ability to connect with players, and you have the makings of a potentially elite recruiter and mentor. Now the Buffs have got 3 gold jackets in their coaching unit.

Colorado also retained offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who built a solid connection with Shedeur Sanders last season. With Shedeur, Travis Hunter, and Wester all off to the NFL soon, the Buffs’ offense in 2025 is gonna have a whole new look. Incoming freshman QB Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis and Liberty transfer Kaidon Salter are next in line, and Shurmur’s job just got a whole lot more interesting.

With Houston gone, Colorado’s strength and conditioning program is in a bit of flux. Maurice Sims still leads the unit, but losing a guy as hands-on and respected as Houston leaves a noticeable void. The Buffs have been in the business of rebuilding since Deion Sanders arrived, and this is just another hurdle they’ll have to clear.