Jim Mora Expected to be Named HC

[UConnStats]

Why would Dan-O, who I love, think he has any right to influence a coaching hire? Stop quibbling!

The last hire was for the alumni, time to let DB fully take the wheel.

Seems like this deal has been done for a lot longer than they’ll ever let on (Mora’s staff will likely confirm/deny this).

 

[Husky68]

This is what makes me nervous - one of the things that is absolutely vital in getting this program on track is to recognize relatively nearby recruiting hotbeds. CT should not be primary focus - Florida, Penn, Ohio and Virginia should be.

Don't think I would take anything he says as "to the exclusion of emphasis on other stuff". Don't expect him to look mainly to Ct. for talent, even I know that you look at Florida. He talked about portal also in what seemed like a reasonable manner.
As an example, it's nice we got Tyler P. at UConn; would have been much better than nice if we got his older brother.
None of the other retreads were HEAD COACHES in the NFL.

 

[ZooCougar]

This. This is a power move by Benedict that, in one swift stroke has put to bed the rumors that the University of Connecticut is winding down it’s football program, and signaled to current players and future recruits that we are serious about football.

(@ZooCougar are you pleasantly surprised?)

No. He’s and out of work HC. And we got him for a steal. Nobody else wanted him.

Doesn’t mean he can’t be good but we did not punch above our weight class here.

 

[UConnRock]

To me, this is in the same realm of an Al Golden hire but with many more positive aspects. It is clear that AD Dave was deeply concerned about waiting until the end of the regular season and even into the bowl season/FCS playoffs to get the hire completed. This hire not only allows Mora to hit the recruiting trail for HS kids, but also allows him to recruit the current players on the team who may have been wavering on whether to transfer. Compared to Golden, he has higher level NFL experience, a higher level of success as P5 coach, name recognition, and a personality that will sell the program beyond recruiting and the locker room. What Golden had was northeast connections.

Mora would not be coming to UConn without in-depth discussions with Spanos and likely Mazzone. Whether one or both end up on the coaching staff will be interesting to watch over the next few weeks (or less). I get the feeling that Mora has a handle on what he is getting into based on those discussions with Spanos and others.

 

[BlueandOG]

This should bum out anybody who lived through PP ad GDL. This is a journeyman pick who has been out of the game. This has consultant smell all over it. I can't believe it. Totally wrong direction reinforced.

I could not disagree more. He is a proven winner and leader, exactly what we need.

 

[UC1995]

Joining the staff as an assistant coach until the end of the year is the single strangest part of this whole thing. What a joke

Wouldn't it be nice for him to see what we have before the spring? Why start off after the season from scratch. Nothing strange about it.

 

[CL82]

For me, Randy was a “retread“ because he had coached here before in the prime of his career and came back as his career was sunsetting. Just because More has experience doesn’t make him a “retread.” Maybe that’s just me though.

 

[Bongo Fury]

Wonder if he’ll be on Packer this afternoon (espn off campus)

 

[UC1995]

And great job Dave B of alienating our most visible football alum.

Sorry Dan O has no role in hiring... He is commentator and he should know it would be a conflict of interest.

 

[Exit 4]

Will there ever be a "perfect" candidate?

There will always be some minuses to go with the plusses.

 

[McLovin]

Let's look at what AD DB has done for UConn since he got here

1. Brought in Lashlee (still insane he pulled that off and Edsall took nothing from that experience)
2. Brought in Hurley to lead the MBB team, which is now a top 25 preseason team (and looks like a top 10 TBH)
3. Moved basketball to the right place to keep the brand relevant
4. Saved the football program from fading into complete irrelevancy in CUSA 2.0
5. Got the state to confirm their commitment to making Uconn a nationally competitive university (academics & sports)
6. Hired an ex P5 and NFL head coach to rebuild the football program

It's wild there are still people on here who can't see the big picture of how AD DB is restoring our brand on a national level. Was never going to happen overnight, but basically every move he has made has been correct so far.

No guarantees we will ever get a P5 bid, but we are in much better shape for that now than we were 5 years ago, that's for sure.

 

[Exit 4]

Sorry Dan O has no role in hiring... He is commentator and he should know it would be a conflict of interest.

Guess he had to sit this one out....he is too tight with Edsall.

But if I were AD David Benedict I would be calling Danny O today to keep the connection alive and well.

 

[UConnStats]

 

[MrHockey9]

A decent hire right now and that’s what they needed immediately particularly given the depths this program has plummeted to over the last ten years. Been out of the game for a good enough time that I can’t imagine this being an immediate stepping stone position for him. I dont think they could afford to let him pass to wait for other candidates currently under contract.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

Joining the staff as an assistant coach until the end of the year is the single strangest part of this whole thing. What a joke

Alternatively, not the worst opportunity to evaluate and prioritize current players to focus on keeping and to recruit as rules permit.

 

[Vowelguy]

A condition of employment better be that his dad does the press conferences.

 

[BlueandOG]

Mora is the perfect hire. In honor of Veterans Day, I will use a military analogy to highlight my thinking.

We are Matt Damon in Saving Private Ryan in the last scene at the bridge. We are fighting to hold back the enemy tank onslaught, but they are wiping us out. Hope is lost. Suddenly, AD Dave and HFC Mora fly to the rescue in P-51 Mustangs, blow the crap out of the tanks, and save our sorry rears. We go on to prosper and lead the world.

 

[UConnRock]

Guess he had to sit this one out....he is too tight with Edsall.

But if I were AD David Benedict I would be calling Danny O today to keep the connection alive and well.

Offer Dan O the QB coach job. If he turns it down we will understand how much weight his comments hold.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Mora has his next Mike Vick and his name is TP. The more I think about this hire the more pumped I am.

 

[CTMike]

At this point, it’s fine. He’s fine. Not excited, not mad.

Just once though. Once… it would be nice if the reaction was “boy, UConn stole that guy.”

 

[Exit 4]

Here's another nice thing.... we wont be chasing coaches in that window from thanksgiving to signing day like other programs. Given our positioning, that had potential to be NOT fun......like watching Edsall look for an OC two seasons ago.

 

[Hey Adrien!]

The opinion of a casual fan: pleasantly surprised we hired a guy with his credentials. Lou Spanos is a nice guy, but I do not any retention of our current staff. We need to clean house.

 

[huskysupporter]

Guess he had to sit this one out....he is too tight with Edsall.

But if I were AD David Benedict I would be calling Danny O today to keep the connection alive and well.

That was my point - of course Dan shouldn’t have a significant say, but Dave B. should have called.

Actually little surprised at the vitriol directed at Dan here. If there was a Mount Rushmore of UCONN football he would be the first face carved on the stone.

 

[RSTuthill]

Time to get Mike Vick as a QB coach

Please, no. Underage girls?

 

[Hoophound]

The opinion of a casual fan: pleasantly surprised we hired a guy with his credentials. Lou Spanos is a nice guy, but I do not any retention of our current staff. We need to clean house.

I think we are going to see some retention. I'm ok with keeping a few guys, Spanos included. I don't think we've gotten a clear view of his potential as a DC. He's been playing a bunch of babies. He needs to develop those guys and get some experience from the portal to help out. He's outrageously positive and very well liked.

 

[Da_Aisijimo_Gou]

I wouldn't necessarily ask my ex-wife to help me pick out my new girlfriend.

Luckily, Mora's also unlikely to ask his ex-wife for help picking his assistants.

 

[Bongo Fury]

You would trust Danno to keep a secret?

 

[Waquoit]

Guess he had to sit this one out....he is too tight with Edsall.

But if I were AD David Benedict I would be calling Danny O today to keep the connection alive and well.

I would call and tell him "Love you Dan, get over it!"

 

[jazyj]

Please, no. Underage girls?

What the hell is this comment

 

[FfldCntyFan]

This is what makes me nervous - one of the things that is absolutely vital in getting this program on track is to recognize relatively nearby recruiting hotbeds. CT should not be primary focus - Florida, Penn, Ohio and Virginia should be.

If he doesn't realize it now (I imagine he does) he will find out soon enough that in order to compete at the level we want to compete in we can't view our home state (or even all of New England) as a sufficient talent base.

Logically half of our roster will need to come from fertile recruiting grounds with somewhat similar climate (NJ, Maryland, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Ohio). We will also need to bring in some talent (as we have for a couple decades) from Florida and continue with recruiting Texas (a recent addition) along with the occasional recruits from other southern states (Georgia, SC, NC).

The entirety of New England and New York state (except for rare occasions) shouldn't supply more than 20 or so scholarships (throughout all classes) at any point. This doesn't mean we shouldn't be willing to look for talent locally.