"Been Coach Prime": Deion Sanders reminisces good old days, running his Prime Prep Academy for young talents

Deion Sanders, known as Coach Prime, took a nostalgic trip down memory lane on Saturday. He shared a throwback photo on Instagram from his days at Prime Prep Academy. Sanders co-founded the Prime Prep Academy in 2012, a charter school in Texas aimed at nurturing young football talents.

The academy, which had campuses in Oak Cliff, Dallas and Fort Worth, initially enrolled more than 1,100 students. In his Instagram post, Sanders is surrounded by young students.

"Been CoachPrime," the post's caption read.

Screenshot via Instagram/@deionsanders

Sanders served as a coach for two years at the Prime Prep Academy, laying the foundation for his coaching career. After Prime Prep, Sanders continued his coaching journey at Triple A Academy in 2015 and 2016.

This was followed by a stint as offensive coordinator at Trinity Christian High School in 2017. He had the opportunity to coach his sons, Shilo and Shedeur Sanders, there.

His coaching insight led him to the collegiate level. Deion Sanders became the coach of the Jackson State Tigers in September 2020, before moving to the Colorado Buffaloes in 2022.

CFB analyst skeptic of Deion Sanders' Colorado in the Big 12

Coach Prime may feel the heat as he heads into his second year as coach of the Colorado Buffaloes. A high-profile figure both on and off the field, Sanders has drawn significant attention since he arrived in Boulder. His tenure is a topic of constant scrutiny.

On3's Jesse Simonton shed light on the multifaceted pressure that the Colorado coach faces.

"Coach Prime has spent the offseason insisting he plans on being at Colorado long-term, but that future could be determined by what happens on (and off) the field this fall," Simonton wrote.

Simonton pointed out that the extensive roster changes implemented by Sanders could yield better results, but uncertainty remains.

"Was all the staff shuffling for better or worse? Will the OL additions allow quarterback Shedeur Sanders to flourish? Can the defense improve from at least terrible to simply bad?" He wrote.

Some faction of the CFB world suggests that Colorado is a serious Big 12 title contender. However, Simonton argues that a bowl game is a more realistic goal for the Buffaloes. With high expectations and a spotlight that never dims, Coach Prime's journey at Colorado will be closely watched.

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