Benedict and Mora

[Jetskies]

Hopefully Jim Mora decides to make UConn his final stop...

...but just in case, let me be the first to say Pete Lembo has a great track record of doing a lot with very little. Heck, we only beat Buffalo by 3 points this year and we have much more talent than Buffalo.

he is my favorite coach to listen to, since i discovered him last year prior to their game against us. Seems super genuine and he has done a fine job at Buffalo. Don't know if he's my choice to lead UConn, but I see why this would be brought up by others.

 

[Jetskies]

as others have shared, I am also of the mindset that Jim Mora is unmoved by a massive payday. why go from 2.5M to 5M and eat up all of that money that could go to the team? He doesn't "need" it, the way an up-and-comer would jump at the payday. But then again, an true up-and-comer head coach (eg. bob chesney) would likely never come to UConn.

we LITERALLY have the coach we need (experience, stage of life, motivation) at the time we needed him.

I know nothing, but my hunch is JM is just playing a side mission in life right now - singular goal is to get UConn into a P4. if it takes 10 more years to do it, he'll get it done and retire. If it happens in the next couple years, he stays to coach us as a P4 for a while, and just rides the wave of success until things start falling apart (they always do) and then he'll resign gracefully (or retire) before making the AD fire him.

He'll be a hero forever here, even if his final season is a 4-8 result. We're in the club.

the point is - I wouldn't be surprised if JM prefers to direct the pot of money UConn gives him, in more strategic ways to actually GET THE JOB DONE, than just lining his pockets again.

 

[UConnTrumbull]

I don't really know how to explain it but I'm not worried about Jim leaving. A few more great years here and if he can usher us into a power conference then he would be a legend. He always said that's his goal. I really think he is more of a culture guy than a transactional coach.

 

[superjohn]

Since we're all guessing on his motivations.....

He said he was pissed he got canned at UCLA and didn't feel he deserved to get fired.

I think he values the opportunity to coach at a place as long as he wants and to leave when he is ready. And I think UConn provides him that opportunity. He doesn't need the money, but showing him appreciation with some more pay for him amd his staff, is the smart move by Benedict.

Agreed

 

[Palatine]

JM base salary is 2.5 million plus incentives which probably don't get him over 3 million.

His career earnings exceed 25 million. His net worth at this point is estimated to be a little over 10 million. It could (probably should) be higher.

Yep he could make more. But to use the pitch line Jim does with UConn recruits. You don't go to UConn because we pay you most. You go because it's the place you can achieve what you what to achieve.

 

[uconndogs]

Georgia is out of their mind offering that kind of guaranteed money.

 

[JwittersPAC]

Georgia is out of their mind offering that kind of guaranteed

Kirby Smart’s record at Georgia is 112-20. Yes it is an insane amount of money but he has an incredible record and has built Georgia into a powerhouse that always plays at a high level and recruits very well given there track record of getting players ready for the NFL.

 

[Viet Vet]

Jim is a class guy. I don’t doubt that a great deal of money will be waved at him . My gut tells me he wants a legacy as a “builder”.

Call me naive, but I think he stays.

 

[Woof 101]

There is plenty of stupid money in college football and if someone comes calling with some of it Mora should listen.

That said, Mora is 63, likes to ski in Idaho, and looks like he takes good care of himself. UCONN is a demanding job.

If the fan base can continue to show up and make him feel at home I feel this may be his last stop. We need to find a conference for nil money. As for ski slopes there are many in New England that Olympians have trained at. Not in CT but north to VT, NH, and Maine.

 

[uconnyankee]

For all the criticism Mora's received here, he was smart enough to understand how to get talent here - play an NFL-style offense and defense and get playing time you might not get at a P4. He's identified stars and allowed them to shine. Bell understood that. So have some others in the past three years. Mora is building a program where a program shouldn't be expected to exist. Until UConn is accepted into a P4, this is the best, and maybe only, way to attract talent and be competitive.

One thing about Cignetti that's never mentioned is that not only is he succeeding wildly at Indiana, but JMU didn't fall apart after he left. If Mora does leave, let's hope what he's left here continues to develop. I'd hate for us to go away from a pro-style game under a "college" coach.

JMU also made a great hire in Chesney from HC.

Cignetti strikes me like the next Petrino. People I spoke to at JMU were not impressed with his personal skills. The term was used a lot.
But if you win, nobody cares.

My heart would like to think Mora stays on and gets us into a P4 conference. Then retires when he leaves UConn and is the gym Calhoun of college football.

Hopefully he’s left us in a better place about what the program needs and how we can be successful with our current path. He’s certainly proven you can win at UConn with football.

Fun ride. Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[Bongo Fury]

If the fan base can continue to show up and make him feel at home I feel this may be his last stop. We need to find a conference for nil money. As for ski slopes there are many in New England that Olympians have trained at. Not in CT but north to VT, NH, and Maine.

I imagine he can get to Idaho by charter flight. Pretty quickly. It is worth it. Northern New England is not comparable

 

[Hoophound]

JM base salary is 2.5 million plus incentives which probably don't get him over 3 million.

His career earnings exceed 25 million. His net worth at this point is estimated to be a little over 10 million. It could (probably should) be higher.

Yep he could make more. But to use the pitch line Jim does with UConn recruits. You don't go to UConn because we pay you most. You go because it's the place you can achieve what you what to achieve.

Internet net worth estimations are stupid. They don’t include investments. Anyone with a net worth of 10 mill that happened to buy some Bitcoin 10 years ago has generational wealth.

 

[Waquoit]

I think that’s a fair comment about anyone. I know career-wise, I hit a point where I didn’t want the job the next level up because of the politics that would come with it.

Exactly why I thought he was a fit from the beginning. We're about the same age, priorities change over time.

 

[fleaflicker]

Just a few words from the "old Guy" now 86. It is a dream season for this UConn grad. I think however it plays out with Mora, whether he stays or goes, the Huskies, the college in total, is now one of the GREAT academic and ATHLETIC institutions in the country. Men and woman's BB, Hockey, Baseball, now Football and the other sports have climbed the mountain and when UC gets in a P4, "who thought up that great idea of letting them in"! Thanks and go Huskies..

 

[Kolumbo]

I had no idea why Jim Mora was so excited about coming to UConn. I remember hearing his name and thinking, Jim Mora?!!! UConn is a 100% Unique situation. Benedict and Mora met, hashed it out, and I was sure he knew 100% what he was getting into. In hindsight, I think he knew at most 90% what he was getting into. But he was committed and he's excelling.

UConn Basketball = Jim Calhoun
UConn Basketball = Geno Auriemma
UConn Baseball = Jim Penders
UConn Soccer = Joe Morrone
UConn Field Hockey = Nancy Stevens
UConn Hockey = Mike Cavanaugh
UConn Football = Jim Mora

HCJM is 63 but heck, he can coach as long as he wants. 63 is young as far as I know. Joe Pa coached until 84. Keep making bowl games and get us into a good conference and Him Mora can cement his legacy. Right now the P2 is toxic. Cignetti is doing great at Indiana while others are getting sheet-canned for losing 4 games. You aren't building anything at those places. You are a hired gun who will get fired if you lose to top 25 programs with a roster of kids looking for the biggest payday. UConn is an opportunity to build a program, a legacy, find hidden gems, coach 'em up, surprise people, and become a hero.

 

[Hoophound]

This is a critical point in our development. Mora might start getting better players now. The message is getting out, come to UConn, get on the field, have P4 facilities and play in an NFL style program. Take your best shot at making the league.

It will be a shame if he goes now. I think he plans on staying. His recruiting pitch in the press conference was deliberate and rehearsed. He’s also very involved locally, as is his wife. I think they like this retirement alternative. Storrs is a pretty chill, rural environment and he likes the outdoors. It’s also close to NYC where two of his kids are, which was important in him coming here in the first place.

 

[pj]

Here Mora gets to be the boss. The AD, the fans, the donors want to help him.

At bigger programs Mora would have a hundred bosses. The administration, the fanbase, the donors, all demanding to be pleased.

He can make more money elsewhere, he can have a better shot at championships elsewhere. But for a sane life and a chance to coach up some promising young athletes on your own terms, UConn will be hard to beat.

 

[coachcap]

The week that HCJM was hired, my wife & I got on a plane to Raleigh, NC to attend my niece's wedding. As we boarded, the pilot was standing at the entry & noticed my Block C golf shirt. He said "Welcome aboard, you need a new coach!" When I responded that the Huskies had hired Jim Mora, the former Falcons & UCLA coach two days earlier, he was stunned & said "Well THAT'S a start!"

 

[Palatine]

Hurley turned down the Lakers. Maybe Mora will turn down the Chiefs.

 

[RedStickHusky]

I am starting to hear rumblings from other schools alumni as to whether they should be interested in Mora. He will have options after this year for far more money and, maybe more importantly to him, a spot where he can get into the playoffs.

It will be interesting. But if he gets a more tempting offer, he will have earned it.

My hope is that Jim has made his money and wants to ride out his career in a place he can enjoy. Maybe a slim hope but it's what I've got.

 

[Windham4th]

I don't think a guy that is housing former players is really looking around for other jobs, but you never know

 

[noeynox]

Kirby Smart’s record at Georgia is 112-20. Yes it is an insane amount of money but he has an incredible record and has built Georgia into a powerhouse that always plays at a high level and recruits very well given there track record of getting players ready for the NFL.

It is nuts. But some might say what we pay Hurley is nuts. Elite level success is not cheap.

 

[huskymedic]

Win and they will come…

… expect to see more and more of this. I for one won’t lose much sleep over it. We are in a much better place now, than in the past.



-> 13. Jim Mora doesn’t get nearly enough credit for the turnaround he has engineered at UConn. A program that went 10-50 over the five seasons before Mora’s 2022 arrival is bound for its third bowl trip in four years after taking down Duke, 37-34. It’s the 7-3 Huskies’ third win against an ACC foe since last year’s Fenway Bowl against North Carolina, this one coming against a 6-4 Blue Devils team that remains tied for first in the loss column of the conference. (Not the greatest testament for the ACC that Duke went 1-3 out of conference but could still win the league.)

Mora has resurrected his career after his 2017 ouster at UCLA, where he went 46-30. Will one of the umpteen Power 4 schools with a job opening come calling in late November? <-

 

[DoctorWho85]

I am starting to hear rumblings from other schools alumni as to whether they should be interested in Mora. He will have options after this year for far more money and, maybe more importantly to him, a spot where he can get into the playoffs.

It will be interesting. But if he gets a more tempting offer, he will have earned it.

I mean I hope he stays, he's said this is his last job, but I don't blame him if a blue blood comes calling. He will leave the program in the best is has been in almost 2 decades and will have made it a fairly attractive job for some young up and comer.

 

[QDOG5]

JMU also made a great hire in Chesney from HC.

Cignetti strikes me like the next Petrino. People I spoke to at JMU were not impressed with his personal skills. The term was used a lot.
But if you win, nobody cares.

My heart would like to think Mora stays on and gets us into a P4 conference. Then retires when he leaves UConn and is the gym Calhoun of college football.

Hopefully he’s left us in a better place about what the program needs and how we can be successful with our current path. He’s certainly proven you can win at UConn with football.

Fun ride. Enjoy it while it lasts.

I’m interested in your thoughts about your comparison of Cignetti and Petrino.