Colorado officially hires Kentucky's Eliot as defensive coordinator

Colorado officially hired Kentucky's D.J. Eliot as defensive coordinator Thursday, days after the move was widely reported to be happening.

The 40-year-old has agreed to a three-year contract that is currently pending approval by the university's Board of Regents.

"I'm excited about having D.J. Eliot as our defensive coordinator," head coach Mike McIntyre said in a statement. "He brings a lot of expertise and energy to our defense. Also, he is one of the great, young defensive minds in the game of college football today."

Eliot replaces Jim Leavitt who left the Buffaloes after two seasons for the same role at Oregon. Eliot certainly has his work cut out for him in order to maintain Colorado's status as one of the better defensive units in the Pac-12, as Leavitt led the nation's 20th-ranked defense last season.

"I am very excited to work at a great program with an excellent head coach and at a place that has always been special to me," Eliot said, noting his wife graduated from nearby Northglenn High School.

Spring football kicks off for Colorado in Feb. 22 and runs through March 18 with the annual spring game.