Colorado State is expected to make UConn coach Jim Mora the school’s next head coach.

[mikeinmanila]

On the positive side, if the next head coach can keep the ball rolling (i.e., get us to 6+ wins next year and beyond), it will change the narrative about UConn football.

 

[coachcap]

So my first thoughts after scrolling thru this thread:
UConn needs a highly visible personality to come in IMMEDIATELY once this extra transfer portal opens to preserve as many players from bolting as possible.
Will AD Dave seek in put from Dan Orlavsky on the next hire as there is no more visible proponent of the program than Dan?
Pull out all stops to keep Cam Edwards: He is the poster boy of the program, CT. native, grew up dreaming of playing for the Huskies, & ideally, wants to finish his college career in National Flag Blue...
How will this news affect season ticket renewals by the December 3rd deadline?
FWIW, Hope this isn't Dan O.'s day off at ESPN as UConn fans would love his thoughts on the situation & next hire.

 

[REB1094]

Statement From UConn Athletic Director David Benedict - University of Connecticut Athletics

Statement on Head Coach Jim Mora :

uconnhuskies.com

Jim Mora informed me late last night that he has accepted the head coaching position at Colorado State.

We are grateful for Coach Mora's contributions to UConn over the past four seasons. He took on the challenge of rebuilding our football program and delivered results that exceeded expectations. Under his leadership, the Huskies won 27 games and achieved bowl eligibility in three of his four seasons, including back-to-back nine-win seasons for the first time in program history.

Coach Mora brought energy and a winning culture back to UConn football and put our program back on the national stage.

We thank Jim for his dedication to our student-athletes and wish him, his wife Kathy and his family the best at Colorado State.

We now turn our attention to finding the right leader to build on the foundation that has been established and continue moving UConn football forward.

Offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis will lead the team in the interim as a national search for the next head coach at the University of Connecticut will begin immediately.

David Benedict

Director of Athletics

I’m sure there’s a timing reason it had to be now.

But that is really upsetting right before the bowl game that gives UConn the chance to have its first 10 win season in FBS.

 

[ScottVib]

Colorado State's athletic budget in 2024 was $73 million vs UConn at $106 million.

There's a difference between the athletic budget and the willingness to commit as great a percentage of the revenue share cap to football vs other sports.

 

[UConn Dan]

So my first thoughts after scrolling thru this thread:
UConn needs a highly visible personality to come in IMMEDIATELY once this extra transfer portal opens to preserve as many players from bolting as possible.
Will AD Dave seek in put from Dan Orlavsky on the next hire as there is no more visible proponent of the program than Dan?
Pull out all stops to keep Cam Edwards: He is the poster boy of the program, CT. native, grew up dreaming of playing for the Huskies, & ideally, wants to finish his college career in National Flag Blue...
How will this news affect season ticket renewals by the December 3rd deadline?
FWIW, Hope this isn't Dan O.'s day off at ESPN as UConn fans would love his thoughts on the situation & next hire.

Dan is thinking the same thing we all are.

 

[uconnyankee]

I guess you get spoiled skiing in the Rockies. The best ski area in the Northeast is mid pack as compared to the Rockies. Yes we have Killington nearby, but do international skiers go the Killington or Vail? Or to Mount Snow or Aspen?

Yes. People come from all over to ski Vermont. It’s not the Rockies, but it produces a lot of olympians.
And internationals ski there a lot.

 

[ScottVib]

I’m sure there’s a timing reason it had to be now.

But that is really upsetting right before the bowl game that gives UConn the chance to have its first 10 win season in FBS.

Getting started on recruiting and prepping for the portal. Same reason when UConn hired him he came on as an assistant mid-season. Honestly leaving now at least gives UConn a head start on the search and it comes before the bowl prep which should give them a chance to figure out what the roster will look like.

 

[hoopsfan22]

Mora's gone. Dave Benedict just issued a statement. A very precarious time for UConn football. Dave needs to hit another home run.

How many home runs does UConn need to hit to be taken seriously by a P4?

 

[BigTenFan]

Colorado State is really not a lateral move as far as facilities go. Big new stadium, average 35000-40000 attendance, more regional exposure, more $$
Academics are another story

 

[mikeinmanila]

The next 3-5 years are critical for UConn Athletics. I trust Dave to pull out all the stops regarding this hire.

 

[TyroneShoo]

Is Colorado State really an upgrade?

You are kidding, right?

 

[mikeinmanila]

How many home runs does UConn need to hit to be taken seriously by a P4?

To be honest, Mora was the first home run since RE1. We need more than 1 home run every 23 years.

 

[UConnJim]

There's a difference between the athletic budget and the willingness to commit as great a percentage of the revenue share cap to football vs other sports.

A large % of CSU's revenues are from indirect and direct institutional support and student fees. They had $5.2 million in ticket sales for all sports.

 

[UConnJim]

Colorado State is really not a lateral move as far as facilities go. Big new stadium, average 35000-40000 attendance, more regional exposure, more $$
Academics are another story

There is not more $.

 

[Beowulf]

Have to at least call Brian Kelly, right?

 

[VUcommodore]

From the West. Has a house out there. Fort Collins is supposedly a great place to live. And after a couple years turning around their program he can move an hour south to Boulder to replace Deion and compete with the big boys. (I know, by that time he should be ready to retire).

 

[WrenchFan69]

Embarrassing by all parties, sadly

 

[ZooCougar]

Yes. People come from all over to ski Vermont. It’s not the Rockies, but it produces a lot of olympians.
And internationals ski there a lot.

It's icy. People like powder better.

 

[BlueandOG]

This sucks, but I get his move. The timing is right - great record at UConn, brutal schedule next year, losing our two biggest offensive weapons. He's got to jump now while his stock's high. I'll miss him but appreciate all he did for us. Thanks Coach. I hope you win every game except when you play us.

 

[Skiblets]

Two random thoughts.

1. AD Dave has to be pissed after investing so much time vetting Mora

2. Is Sammis a viable candidate or too green?

 

[Bongo Fury]

Conference championships. Chance to be top G6 team and college football playoffs. He’ll beat the Buffs and be a hero.

 

[Platt81]

The next 3-5 years are critical for UConn Athletics. I trust Dave to pull out all the stops regarding this hire.

I feel like we’ve been saying this for at least 15 years sadly.

 

[CCSUblue]

Two random thoughts.

1. AD Dave has to be pissed after investing so much time vetting Mora

2. Is Sammis a viable candidate or too green?

1. He's been here 4 years...what do you mean?!
2. Probably too green. Has potential though.

 

[Hoophound]

Colorado State is really not a lateral move as far as facilities go. Big new stadium, average 35000-40000 attendance, more regional exposure, more $$
Academics are another story

This is horribly uninformed. First of all, our facilities are amazing and our athletic department has a budget 35% higher than theirs. We have one of the very best athletic departments in the country. Our stadium is not new, but it’s nice and it has an awesome tailgating scene. Lastly, I’ve watched countless CSU games with empty stands (I’m a junky).

We are unique. We lost our Power Conference status. We were still bringing in 25k to watch community colleges and nearly sold out for Duke.

This is a west coast guy that loves the Rockies moving back west. It’s no big deal. I’m a New England guy in Florida. I’d take a job in CT that paid what I make here in a second. It’s home. Your roots run deep.

 

[ZooCougar]

Two random thoughts.

1. AD Dave has to be pissed after investing so much time vetting Mora

2. Is Sammis a viable candidate or too green?

1. Probably not. This was kind of inevitable.

2. Get real with this question. He's still figuring out how to be an OC.