Athletic director David Benedict announced that UConn has hired Jim Mora, a former UCLA and NFL football coach to become its next football coach.
Mora and UConn agreed to a five year contract. He will earn $1.5 million the first season, and could also receive $200,000 annually in performance incentives. After serving as assistant coach for the remainder of 2021 season, he will assume his head coaching duties on Nov. 28. This will give him the opportunity to recruit.
"This program has a lot of potential. I look forward getting to know the student athletes on the team, and am eager for them to start working!" Mora made the statement in a statement.
Mora, 59, was last coaching in 2017. This was his final season at UCLA. Before being fired in November 2017, he went 46-30 with UCLA before being dismissed. In 2018, ESPN hired Mora to be a college football analyst.
UConn announced that Randy Edsall would be retiring as coach in September. After leading the Huskies to two Big East titles, and a Fiesta Bowl appearance in 1999-2010, Edsall was 6-32 during his second tenure as coach. The Huskies are currently 0-8 with Yale being their only win. Yale is an FCS team from Ivy League.
Benedict released a statement saying that Jim is a proven winner and an honest man. He also possesses the energy and experience to bring our football program back on track. "Jim is enthusiastic and unafraid of this challenge and we both know this program has great potential. Under Coach Mora's guidance, I am certain UConn football will once more realize its potential.
Mora spent his first 25 years as a coach in the NFL. He was also a head-coach with the Atlanta Falcons (2004–06) and Seattle Seahawks (2009–10). UConn will be Mora's second stop as a college football coach, and his first in Northeast.
