Rate the Hire (Jim Mora)

[Dooooooomed]

On a scale of 1 (worst) to 10 (best), how would you rate the hire?

 

[gioff2323]

Gave it an 8. Never saw it coming. But I like the way AD DB announced today that the narrative we are shutting down or reducing commitment to fb is absolutely false. Love the month long “observation “ period. Like ties to mazzone and Spanos. Like the commitment to building up program on campus and across state. Love the acknowledgment we will be hitting portal in UConn blog. Like familiarity with working for program with off campus stadium. Like enthusiasm. Like fact that he sees here what few do - maybe just desperate to get back - and knows we can get back to being relevant. Next few weeks - staff hires, recruiting, kids opting to stay - could adjust score.

Oh, and wait, Pete Thamel was off, again. After listening to those taking his post and making it a fact, can we just agree he’s not in the know, period.

 

[Waquoit]

Based on the fact it surpassed all expectations and I thought it was just a WAG when I first read about it, I must give it a 10.

 

[huskyinfl]

10 is Saban so I have to throw a nine at this

 

[gioff2323]

10 is Saban so I have to throw a nine at this

Let’s be honest , Saban is a 10000

 

[Ldandy]

I went with 7 out of 10, as on the surface this is a good hire for a program at the G5 to mid P5 Level. That said should he pull in some dynamic recruiters it could be a solid 8.

 

[Fairfield_1st]

10 is Saban so I have to throw a nine at this

As I decided on an 8, I said the same thing. Saban is a 10, so ...

 

[Nicklo28]

In the beginning when I first heard I was disappointed but after reading all info I like it. Also it gives a head start on recruiting and building a staff which is crucial.

 

[BugsyCT]

Depends on what results we get, which we won’t know for a couple of years.

But for what this football program is right now, Jim Mora seems like a pretty solid hire. Previous head coaching experience in both the NFL and NCAA, including several years at UCLA with some success, so he’s a name that’s well known in the coaching ranks (and not just because of his dad), which could help big time with recruiting. Don’t know if UConn could do much better but we could certainly do a lot worse.

For the time being, I’ll be optimistic and give it an 8 too. Good hire by DB.

 

[Huskyforlife]

7, but bringing back Spanos in some role, and bringing in a great staff would move it up to 8.

 

[huskysupporter]

5

 

[CTFAN4LIFE]

I'd give it a 7.5, so rounded up to 8.

I see a good bit of aspects in the positive column and somewhat of a concern that in each of his head coaching stops the performance has slid downwards. Time will tell. Go Huskies!!!

 

[Forte]

10 is Saban so I have to throw a nine at this

Context matters though. UConn is not an SEC school. I think this was a home run given the pain and suffering experienced by this program over the last decade.

 

[Blueballer]

It's certainly a win/win for Mora. No local connection so he either becomes a hero or takes a pile of cash and goes somewhere else if he fails. Of course as usual the key is recruiting.

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

8... This one came out of total left field as no writer in the world had Mora's name on any open position's short list, but the more I've read on him the more I like it. Gives us a leader of the program with instant name recognition, and proven winner as a HC in both the NFL (Falcons & Seahawks) and college (UCLA w/ 3 10 win seasons). 3 programs in America have this combo in their head coach: Alabama, Michigan & now Connecticut!

Excited to see how Jim Mora will fill out his staff and who he brings in. Pumped to see Mora in Husky blue and white.

 

[Uconnalliance]

Cautiously optimistic…7

 

[SubbaBub]

Objectively - 8
Based on expectations - 10

 

[SonsOfNutmeg]

Does anyone else think that maybe the news got leaked that UConn was going to name Mora HC, so AD Dave was forced to do that strange Zoom intro presser from Mora's lakehouse in Idaho? Or was that like on purpose? Seemed rushed kinda, and they mentioned they would do a official presser when he's in Storrs the 28th.

 

[WestHartHusk]

8, cuz he isn’t Golden.

 

[J187Money]

Let’s be honest , Saban is a 10000

He's too old! He's a retread! Get off my lawn!

 

[Rocktheworld]

5. Totally lukewarm on this. Yeah we have a body in the HC office now. He surely has certain connections with the NFL, and maybe some in College. He has been in charge of a program before, and isn’t some mid-major coordinator.

The problem is that he was mediocre at a big PAC-12 school in his lone stint in CFB, which only lasted 5 years. I’ll be the first to say I have no idea how well he recruited; but that will always be my #1 concern regarding a coach coming from anywhere but college to lead a college program. Maybe he knows some young guys he can hire and delegate with good energy who can recruit; but, as I said, I’m lukewarm. I think how out of left field this hire is may be cause for concern itself; like you couldn’t get anyone with more (recent) CBN coaching experiment? Mora hasn’t even been doing what PP or Edsall were doing in the NFL when we hired them.

 

[RioDog]

The anthropologist in me is noticing that that younger poster with hoops-referencing avatars and handles are less enthusiastic about this hire that others. Just an observation and not sure what it means, but curious.

 

[HobokenHusky]

5. Totally lukewarm on this. Yeah we have a body in the HC office now. He surely has certain connections with the NFL, and maybe some in College. He has been in charge of a program before, and isn’t some mid-major coordinator.

The problem is that he was mediocre at a big PAC-12 school in his lone stint in CFB, which only lasted 5 years. I’ll be the first to say I have no idea how well he recruited; but that will always be my #1 concern regarding a coach coming from anywhere but college to lead a college program. Maybe he knows some young guys he can hire and delegate with good energy who can recruit; but, as I said, I’m lukewarm. I think how out of left field this hire is may be cause for concern itself; like you couldn’t get anyone with more (recent) CBN coaching experiment? Mora hasn’t even been doing what PP or Edsall were doing in the NFL when we hired them.

He had at least 2 top 15 recruiting classes that I know of at UCLA so - he can recruit well.

 

[uconnfan68]

It's certainly a win/win for Mora. No local connection so he either becomes a hero or takes a pile of cash and goes somewhere else if he fails. Of course as usual the key is recruiting.

He’s here until he retires. Already 59. Has a 5 year contract. If he does well, he’ll stay longer, if he doesn’t, he’ll probably go back to broadcasting.

 

[Yup!]

He had at least 2 top 15 recruiting classes that I know of at UCLA so - he can recruit well.

He also had two 10 win seasons, one 9 win and one 8 win.