Coach Candle Introductory Press Conference 12/8/25 @1230. Streamed live on UConn+

[HuskyFan16]

A bit more time w/ the media post formal program from Storrs Central:

Wonder if he can generate a series with Penn State

 

[Jimdish255]

Would be nice to Coach with a few football players tomorrow night. The Basketball game is gonna be lit. 🔥

 

[FfldCntyFan]

Wonder if he can generate a series with Penn State

I don't know about a series but my first thought was we may have a game in Happy Valley before long.

 

[noeynox]

There may be SOME untapped talent in CT high school football, but New England is not fertile recruiting ground. With his Ohio roots, I’m hoping he makes inroads into Ohio, Pennsylvania and perhaps New Jersey.

Prep schools here have a lot of talent.

 

[HCCForever]

I was able to attend today. As Candle has been a successful HC for years now I didn't expect to hear any out of the ordinary statements at the conference. He definitely was all business as noted above. Also, I thought there was a good turnout today considering how quickly this all went down.

Were there any players in attendance?

 

[HuskiesFan1014]

Were there any players in attendance?

No, not that we saw. Cheerleaders and pep band, yes. Players, no.

 

[psilotic]

Penders Cavanaugh under appreciated

Agreed but at least we’re in or very close to heart of hockey country. what penders does on an annual basis in this climate is unbelievable. very lucky he hasnt been poached by a southern school.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

No, not that we saw. Cheerleaders and pep band, yes. Players, no.

Note, final exams began today.

 

[Dove]

When asked if he recruited more through the portal, or traditionally by keeping kids, CC answered that kids today haven't changed. They just need structure.

 

[superjohn]

You guys are weird. He didn't seem nervous and the media isn't supposed to ask him hard hitting questions in an introductory press conference. I like this guy...no nonsense, humble and appreciate of his former school and his current school. No rah rah bs. It's all about relationships, the kids, and the work.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Kolumbo]

The host was Adam Giardino, a broadcaster. You can click the link to watch the video again

You guys are brutal. The guy just got here today. He probably doesn't know the exact answer to a lot of questions yet, such as recruiting vs portal and coaches. This was in introduction, not a deep dive into what will happen in 2 months

Coach Candle talked a lot about people and relationships.
30:00 - holistically building young men. having parents turn their prized possessions, their sons, over to you so in 4-5 years they can shake the president's hands and get a meaningful degree
31:15 - building the program is more of an art than a science
35:00 - last 10 years it changings every year, adapt to how you build a roster

We all believe AD David Benedict hit a HR and if everyone believes that and buys in then we will be successful. There are no guarantees of course but this is about as solid of a hire as you can get. HCJC seems extremely sharp and focused and with the right people around him, good times ahead!

 

[huskymedic]

 

[AllHusky]

I am not sure but I don’t think we are eligible unless we are in a conference

Notre Dame was eligible

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Jetskies]

my gut feels like the only path to a CFP invite for us is to go a clean 12-0.
if there is one or more 11-1 G6 (conference'd) teams in a given year, or 12-1 even, I don't see us winning the CFP vote over them. unless we are undefeated.

Candle sounds awesome. I hope we can have this conversation for real, soooooon.

 

[RayIsTheGOAT]

my gut feels like the only path to a CFP invite for us is to go a clean 12-0.
if there is one or more 11-1 G6 (conference'd) teams in a given year, or 12-1 even, I don't see us winning the CFP vote over them.

Candle sounds awesome. I hope we can have this conversation for real, soooooon.

Agreed, but it’s also SOS dependent.

For example, if a number of Maryland, UNC, Cuse, JMU, and Duke are good/ranked teams next year and we were to go 11-1 (purely hypothetical and highly unlikely), we should be right in the at large conversation.

 

[huskymedic]

Assisted access <-

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Jetskies]

this is how you leave your school.
I am still a JM fan, and I believe that things out of his control caused the bulk of the messiness of his departure. not saying his hands are clean, but maybe the bulk of it was not him.

so, grace to Jim Mora.

But Candle was afforded the opportunity to do it well. Might speak more to UConn & Colorado state, than the men directly.

 

[huskymedic]

Breaking down new UConn football coach Jason Candle’s six-year contract

 

[huskymedic]

Breaking down new UConn football coach Jason Candle’s six-year contract

 

[king conn]

LOL just 1 million for winning the national championship?

Why not make it 5 million? 10 million? Never going to happen, but if it does it would still be more than worth it. And maybe he goes nuts trying to make it happen

 

[huskymedic]

 

[jostar1]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[BRS24]

Respect. Candle already has the husky hand sign going on.

 

[UCan3]

David Benedict also mentioned Gordon Sammis so maybe that is a sign that Gordo is staying

Yes, Coach Candle seems like he is definitely all business. We are in great hands!

I hope Sammis stays.

But I also respect Candle’s authority to make the call.

At end of the day the Coach is “on the hook” for whatever happens with the team, so by all means, make the changes you want.

But when you look at our offense, if I was Candle, I’d be like “okay your staying.”

That’s just me.