Colorado coach Deion Sanders posted a message on X on Thursday afternoon looking for a bank to partner with his program.
Colorado’s collective, the 5430 Alliance, had already been working on a partnership for a financial literacy seminar.
“That aligned perfectly with what coach wanted to do,” said Reggie Calhoun Jr., who joined the 5430 Alliance as director of operations and business development in April. “Coach just took it to another level.”
On Sunday morning, after a speech on fatherhood to his team, Sanders brought the eight Colorado players who have children to the front of the meeting room.
He ceded the stage to a representative of Elevations Credit Union who presented the players with a bank account for their children stocked with $2,121, a nod to Sanders’ signature number.
“It made my whole day. I was like, ‘This is amazing. This is crazy,’” Calhoun Jr. said. “To have a coach talking about building men and see him put the work in and put actions forth, it changes the way you view coaching in the college sports world.”
Elevations already had several relationships across CU’s campus but found a new one with Sanders and the Buffaloes’ collective. The gift to the players was part of the financial literacy presentation that explained compound interest and the value of saving money over time.
“By the time the baby is 18, the baby will be straight and have a head start on life,” Sanders said, emphasizing his guest’s speech explaining savings accounts for kids that can be used to pay for college. “That’s what we need. Imagine if you had 100 grand dumped on you when you were 18. … Let’s pave the way, let’s lay it out so the child has an advantage in life.”
Said Calhoun: “They’re appreciative. Grateful. The smiles and the thank yous and gratitude was all worth it.”
Sanders has previously noted that he refuses to hire coaches who he says do not take care of their kids.
Colorado opens its season Thursday against North Dakota State.
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By David Ubben