The Colorado Buffaloes will have a new defensive coordinator in 2026. “Thee Pregame Show” with Uncle Neely broke the news that CU defensive coordinator Robert Livingston will be taking a job with the Denver Broncos, and recently hired Colorado linebackers coach Chris Marve will be the new defensive coordinator for the Buffs.
Marve came onto the Buffs staff this offseason following a two-year stint as Virginia Tech’s defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach. It was widely speculated that his addition to the staff would make him the de facto replacement for Livingston should the former NFL position coach return to the professional ranks. That is exactly what happened when Livingston joined the Broncos as their new defensive passing game coordinator, per Adam Schefter, following Jim Leonard’s hiring as the Buffalo Bills’ defensive coordinator.
Marve has a fantastic resume highlighted by his time as the Hokies’ defensive coordinator. He also had stops as linebackers coach at Florida State, Mississippi State and Vanderbilt. The former Vanderbilt linebacker, Marve, registered a team-best 51 tackles, 65. tackles for loss and three sacks during his redshirt freshman season. He was a three-time second-team All-SEC (2009-2011).
Even if Deion Sanders and the Buffs were prepared or even expecting a Livingston departure, it is very late in the cycle to lose your defensive coordinator. The reshuffling makes spring practices even more critical for Marve as he gets acclimated to leading a nearly all-new starting defense. How quickly he can shift back into defensive coordinator mode and get the new players on the same page should be one of the biggest storylines surrounding Colorado this spring.
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