Another thing is TJ said all the right things in his exit interviews. He also won more games than Diaco as head coach. He certainly didn't burn any bridges and IMO, left the door open. Take a look at some of TJ's parting comments:
The Departing Weist: 'I Want To Be A Head Coach'
December 18, 2013|By DESMOND CONNER,
dconner@courant.com, The Hartford Courant
Former UConn interim football coach T.J. Weist said that he met with new head coach Bob Diaco on Monday but that there was never any discussion about retaining him.
Weist said it never got that far.
"I think, obviously, I believe our staff did a great job, especially at the end, and I wish more guys would have been retained, but that's really up to Bob and building his staff. He's a good guy, really is," Weist said. "I understand, as being the head coach, you've got to have your own people, so it's fully understandable he would go in the direction he best sees fit.
"I made the choice I was going to pursue other opportunities even though me and my wife [Karen] love this university. We bought a house a block off campus. My wife works in the business school. We really fell in love with this place, but I thought it was best to make a decision to pursue other opportunities. I want to be a head coach. Now that I've been a head coach, I want to do it and know I can do it.
"I know there are a limited number of jobs out there. If it doesn't happen this year, it doesn't happen, but I want to be a head coach."
Weist joined the UConn staff as its offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach last December. He was named interim coach after Paul Pasqualoni was fired after an 0-4 start.
UConn athletic director Warde Manuel tapped Weist to lead the team because his energy and enthusiasm had become contagious. Manuel saw it firsthand. However, when asked what Weist would have to do to keep the job, Manuel simply said, "win."
The Huskies finished 3-9, winning their final three games, but it was too little, too late.
"We didn't win enough. That's the bottom line. I know that. We didn't win enough," Weist said.
Weist said that he intends to stay in Connecticut for a while.
"We'll just be here until we decide what we're going to do, but I love the players," Weist said. "I've become close with a lot of them and their families. I've had unbelievable support from everyone throughout the campus — administrators, alumni, players, their families, the coaches, it could not have been a better situation. I believe we did it the right way, built a very positive attitude, sent the seniors off right. It was fun. I thank Warde and [UConn President] Susan Herbst for the opportunity they gave me here, and I wish Bob nothing but the best."