Fansided

25 worst college football coaching hires in history

By Nicholas Ian Allen

PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - JANUARY 1: Head coach Mike Price of the Washington State University Cougars manages the game from the sidelines during the 89th Rose Bowl game against University of Oklahoma Sooners at the Rose Bowl on January 1, 2003 in Pasadena, California. Oklahoma defeated Washington St. 34-14. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /
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BOULDER, CO – OCTOBER 11: Head coach Jon Embree of the Colorado Buffaloes reacts as he leads his team against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field on October 11, 2012 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)
BOULDER, CO – OCTOBER 11: Head coach Jon Embree of the Colorado Buffaloes reacts as he leads his team against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Folsom Field on October 11, 2012 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) /

20. Jon Embree, Colorado

  • Hired: December 2010
  • Fired: November 2012
  • Record at Colorado: 4-21 (.160)
  • Career head coaching record: 4-21 (.160)

Jon Embree followed a similar career path to Blake. Embree played tight end at Colorado and spent two seasons playing in the NFL. He returned to Boulder in 1991 as a volunteer coach, and after one year in the high school ranks, earned a full-time spot on his former coach Bill McCartney’s staff with the Buffaloes.

Embree spent multiple years coaching offense (tight ends, receivers), defense (defensive ends) and special teams (kickers) at Colorado, which is an underrated asset for a head coach. He served on staff for both Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett as well. Embree later spent three seasons at UCLA, and coached three years in the NFL before Colorado hired him to replace Dan Hawkins as head coach in 2011. The 2011 campaign also marked a new chapter in Buffs history, as it was the first for the school in the Pac-12 Conference.

An alum with NFL playing and coaching experience? That’s a solid foundation for a college football head coach. However, in reality, the Embree head coaching era was one of the worst in program history.

Colorado lost Embree’s debut 34-17 at Hawaii, and though the Buffs beat rival Colorado State two weeks later and won two of three to close the season strong, a seven-game losing streak and 3-10 final record spoiled any positive feelings. The Buffaloes lost nine games by 17 points or more.

It got worse from there. In 2012, Colorado managed to win only a single game – a 35-34 win over eventual 3-9 Washington State – and finished 1-11 to set a new school record for losses in a season. Embree was fired after just two seasons in charge.

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