Colorado announced Monday that defensive line coach Vic So’oto, hired earlier this offseason by CU head coach Karl Dorrell, has decided to return to his home state of California to accept a coaching position there, citing family reasons.

So’oto was one of six new assistant coaches hired this offseason by Dorrell, joining the program after spending the previous two seasons at USC. He grew up in California, attending Carlsbad High School.

“It is disappointing we’re losing Vic after just two months, but this is purely family-related,” Dorrell said in a statement.  “He has five young children and with most of both sides of his family living in California, they can use the additional support.  So we understand why he wants to take advantage of an opportunity to move back and be closer to them.”

So’oto, 34, is well-respected as a recruiter and highly regarded as an up-and-coming assistant coach in the profession. With turnover at USC, Colorado worked quickly to steal him away from the Pac-12 South foe. Defensive coordinator Chris Wilson moved from coaching the defensive line unit to the outside linebackers to facilitate bringing So’oto aboard. Wilson has coached defensive line for much of his 30-year career, including the past two years at CU.

We’ll see if the Buffs move Wilson back to the defensive line and hire a replacement outside ‘backers coach or keep Wilson with the edge rushers and hire a new defensive line coach. Either way, a vacancy this late in the game will provide for an interesting search.

Colorado says that search is already underway. Spring football practices at CU begin on Wednesday, March 30, with the spring game on Saturday, April 23.