Former CU Buffs coach Darrin Chiaverini ready to lead Chaffey Colleg…

In order to grow, Darrin Chiaverini had to step back a bit.

On Monday, the former Colorado receiver and assistant coach announced that he has accepted a job as the head coach at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

“I’m very excited,” Chiaverini told BuffZone. “My goal was to become a college head football coach and I’m obviously grateful for the opportunity that Chaffey gave me and my family.”

Chiaverini worked as an analyst at UCLA last year. Prior to that, he spent six years as an assistant at CU. During that time, he worked in various roles, including as co-offensive coordinator from 2016-18 and offensive coordinator from 2020-21. He coached the Buffs’ receivers in all six seasons, and was also the recruiting coordinator, assistant head coach and interim head coach at various stages.

Before coming to CU, Chiaverini spent two seasons (2014-15) as the special teams coordinator at Texas Tech. His coaching career has also taken him to Riverside City College and Mt. San Antonio College.

Now, he’ll guide his own program at the junior college level.

“Obviously it’s different than the Power 5 level that I’ve been at for the last 10 years, but I think whenever you take on any responsibility, whatever level it is, you’re going to grow as a coach,” he said. “This is a great opportunity for me to grow as a head coach and then also get back to running the offense that I want to run and will have the ability to run. I’m excited about that.”

Chiaverini was a receiver at CU from 1996-99 and then played professionally until 2006. He had NFL stints with the Cleveland Browns, Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Falcons.

In 16 years of coaching, Chiaverini said, “I think I’ve checked pretty much every other box,” except for being a head coach.

Leading Chaffey will give Chiaverini new opportunities.

“This allows me to build a program the way I want to build a program,” he said. “This allows me to run the type of offense that I want to run and not have someone tell me what I can and can’t do. That’s why I was really excited about this opportunity. Not only do I get to become a head coach and dive into those challenges, but also I’ve never once in my college career had the opportunity to run the offense I want to run. I’ve always been dictated by other people and that won’t be the case now.”

The location is perfect, too. Chiaverini grew up in Corona, Calif., and starred at Corona High School, located about 30 minutes from Chaffey. He recently moved back to Corona to be closer to his 80-year-old father.

“I moved back to Corona not even knowing about this opportunity,” he said. “It came about because the head coach decided to step down.”

Chaffey is located in the Inland Empire, where Chiaverini has recruited for years.

“I have great relationships with the high school coaches, so I think it’ll be a quick build for us,” he said.

Chaffey went 2-18 in the last two seasons, but prior to sitting out the 2020 season because of the COVID pandemic had a great program. The Panthers were 10-0 in 2019 and 10-1 in 2018.

“It’s going to have its challenges,” Chiaverini said, “but I’m excited about the challenges.”