Deion Sanders touched down in Boulder, Colorado late Saturday night. He stepped inside Folsom Field. He walked the facilities and sat in the meeting rooms. All the while wearing a black trench with fur-lined lapels — the flair that has marked Prime Time’s past — and a black cap that simply read ‘Colorado’ — Coach Prime’s future.

The long courtship is over.

Sanders and Colorado made it official late Saturday night.

Sanders, 55, joins the CU program from Jackson State, where in three seasons the Tigers compiled a 27-5 record and won back-to-back SWAC championships at the FCS level. The Tigers were unbeaten for the first time in program history this past season, beating Southern 43-24 in the SWAC title game Saturday to reach 12-0.

“There were a number of highly qualified and impressive candidates interested in becoming the next head football coach at Colorado, but none of them had the pedigree, the knowledge, and the ability to connect with student-athletes like Deion Sanders,” CU athletic director Rick George said in a statement. “Not only will Coach Prime energize our fanbase, I’m confident that he will lead our program back to national prominence while leading a team of high quality and high character.”

A member of both the Pro Football and College Football Hall of Fame.

“Deion Sanders’ stature transcends sports, and his hiring elevates not only the football program but the university as a whole,” said CU chancellor Philip DiStefano.  “I’m thankful Deion has chosen to join our Buffalo family and I applaud Rick George for a truly inspired choice.  This is an exciting new chapter in the long, storied history of Colorado football and I look forward to standing shoulder-to-shoulder with our students, supporters and fans to cheer on “Coach Prime” and our student-athletes next fall.”