UConn hires Jim Mora as head coach

UConn has hired former NFL coach Jim L. Mora to be its next head coach, the program announced Thursday.

Mora will serve as an assistant coach until Nov. 28 in order to get better acquainted with various duties, including recruiting. He will officially begin his tenure as head coach after the Huskies' last game this season.

"Jim is a proven winner, a man of integrity, and he possesses the experience and the energy to lead our football program back to success," said director of athletics David Benedict in a statement.

Mora last coached in 2017 with UCLA and also spent time with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. The soon-to-be head coach of the Huskies is "excited for the opportunity".

"This program is loaded with potential, and I look forward to getting to know the student-athletes on the team and am eager to get to work," Mora said.

The 59-year-old will succeed Randy Edsall, who stepped down as head coach in September.

Mora went 46-30 during his time at UCLA, but he was fired after a string of disappointing seasons. The former Bruins coach began his tenure with a bowl game appearance in each of his first four seasons. However, he went 9-14 over his final two campaigns, leading to his departure.

His time with the Falcons followed a similar arc. Mora led Atlanta to a playoff appearance in his first year with the franchise after posting an 11-5 record in 2004. He then failed to win more than eight games in either of his next two seasons, which resulted in the Falcons firing him following the 2006 campaign.

Mora later spent one season as the Seahawks head coach in 2009, finishing with a 5-11 record. He has compiled a 31-33 mark in the NFL.

UConn is currently in the midst of another disappointing season with a 1-8 record. The Huskies have not won more than three games in a campaign since 2015.