Dan Hawkins - photo courtesy CU athletics

Despite the Buffs finishing 3-9 — the fourth losing record in Dan Hawkins’ four seasons as CU football coach — university officials decided to retain Hawkins for a fifth season. He owns a 16-33 record since arriving at CU.

“I know for me it’s been humbling,” said Hawkins, whose contract runs through the 2012 season. “This whole thing has been humbling. That’s not all bad for a person to have to kind of go reinvent yourself.”

Asked after the season what a fair set of expectations would be for 2010, Hawkins said, “Beating Colorado State and Nebraska, getting to a bowl game and winning that bowl game. That ought to be a baseline.”

Shortly after the season, secondary coach and defensive passing game coordinator Greg Brown left Hawkins’ staff to become co-defensive coordinator at the University of Arizona. Also on the assistant coaching front, former NFL defensive back Ashley Ambrose will be promoted to full-time wide receivers coach this year.

CU senior tight end Riar Geer was named to the Associated Press All-Big 12 first team in 2009 and was invited to the East-West Shrine all-star game. Meanwhile, senior cornerback Cha’pelle Brown was named the Buffs’ 2009 most valuable player.