SI grading the coaches hired in 2021-22

[UCMB88]

Sports Illustrated issued grades to all of the coaches hired in the 2021-22 coaching cycle. Here's what they had to say about our own HCJM:

Regrading the 2021–22 College Football Coaching Cycle: Two Unanimous Failures

Jim Mora, UConn

Initial reaction:
A bit of a surprise hire given Mora’s résumé as a former NFL/Power 4 head coach with West Coast roots.

Tenure:
As an FBS independent in an area without much talent, this is a difficult gig that Mora has managed to exceed even modest expectations with. The overall mark of 23–23 isn’t anything to write home about, but he won nine games in 2024 and has UConn primed for a third bowl game in four seasons.

Pat Forde’s regrade: A-
Mora has taken one of the weirdest jobs in FBS and made it work, going 23–23 at the only independent program other than Notre Dame. He’s solidified a program that many thought would fade into irrelevance without a conference tie-in.

Bryan Fischer’s regrade: A
I was extremely skeptical about Mora working out in Storrs, Conn., given the job itself and how things went his final years at UCLA. But he’s made the most of things and should be in position to capitalize with a better job soon enough.

 

[JwittersPAC]

Sports Illustrated issued grades to all of the coaches hired in the 2021-22 coaching cycle. Here's what they had to say about our own HCJM:

Regrading the 2021–22 College Football Coaching Cycle: Two Unanimous Failures

Jim Mora, UConn

Initial reaction:
A bit of a surprise hire given Mora’s résumé as a former NFL/Power 4 head coach with West Coast roots.

Tenure:
As an FBS independent in an area without much talent, this is a difficult gig that Mora has managed to exceed even modest expectations with. The overall mark of 23–23 isn’t anything to write home about, but he won nine games in 2024 and has UConn primed for a third bowl game in four seasons.

Pat Forde’s regrade: A-
Mora has taken one of the weirdest jobs in FBS and made it work, going 23–23 at the only independent program other than Notre Dame. He’s solidified a program that many thought would fade into irrelevance without a conference tie-in.

Bryan Fischer’s regrade: A
I was extremely skeptical about Mora working out in Storrs, Conn., given the job itself and how things went his final years at UCLA. But he’s made the most of things and should be in position to capitalize with a better job soon enough.

Why does a positive article of Jim Mora have to paint not a very good picture of UConn football? Coach uses UConn to get better job, one of the weirdest jobs, etc.

 

[gtcam]

Why does a positive article of Jim Mora have to paint not a very good picture of UConn football? Coach uses UConn to get better job, one of the weirdest jobs, etc.

How would you phrase it? Is the author lying?

 

[CL82]

Why does a positive article of Jim Mora have to paint not a very good picture of UConn football? Coach uses UConn to get better job, one of the weirdest jobs, etc.

Because we were absolutely abysmal for over a decade

 

[Kembafan]

Why does a positive article of Jim Mora have to paint not a very good picture of UConn football? Coach uses UConn to get better job, one of the weirdest jobs, etc.

Because you can't appreciate the job he's done without recognizing the situation he walked into. I can't wait for the time when articles about UConn Football will exclaim "What an elite program!" But, alas, we live in the real world.

 

[Redding Husky]

Instead of “weird”, I would have said “unusual”. Basketball school, New England, independent, etc. But it’s a good job and it will always be the right fit for someone.

 

[LetsGoUC]

If we win 9 games this year, I would say Mora for sure gets an A.....but if we only win 6 games, I would say he gets a B.

No doubt a good hire for what was an absolute abysmal program for the previous decade.

 

[Waquoit]

I still believe this is Jim's last HC job.

 

[Kolumbo]

He could have said it was a unique or challenging job. using the term weird to describe a head coaching job makes Forde looke like ane amateure

 

[ZooCougar]

He could have said it was a unique or challenging job. using the term weird to describe a head coaching job makes Forde looke like ane amateure

Pat Forde is and will continue to be an enemy of the program. He's just as bad as the hick that writes in the Oklahoma paper.

 

[ZooCougar]

I still believe this is Jim's last HC job.

I tend to agree. He's doing a good job here but not so amazing that they will overlook the fact that he's going to be 64, loses 4th quarter leads like nothing and can't win in OT. Someone somewhere else said he would actually be a great fit with the New York Giants.

Rest easy UConn fans.

 

[AllHusky]

What Mora needs to really cement his legacy is for his young coordinators to develop and catch fire. I'm a Sammis fan, and he has me holding my breath that he is the real thing, court is still out. Liked the sounds of the Brock hire, hate the 3-3-5 and don't have confidence that he can successfully make adjustments. If one or both of these guys were to be the real deal(Head Coach in waiting material), Mora could start writing his book titled "How I saved UConn Football". Have no complaints about Coach Mora other than I'd rather be undefeated than 5-3.

 

[Kolumbo]

I still believe this is Jim's last HC job.

I also agree. UConn Football needs a home though and I'm not sure how long independence is sustainable. There is going to be continued frustration riding the ebbs and flows of CR snubs, NIL, transfer portal and how they affect building the roster. We saw some significant frustration this past week from everyone, including Coach Mora and the fans. Coach Mora is doing a great job given the situation but at some point, the situation has to drastically improve.

 

[ShakyTheMohel]

I also agree. UConn Football needs a home though and I'm not sure how long independence is sustainable. There is going to be continued frustration riding the ebbs and flows of CR snubs, NIL, transfer portal and how they affect building the roster. We saw some significant frustration this past week from everyone, including Coach Mora and the fans. Coach Mora is doing a great job given the situation but at some point, the situation has to drastically improve.

I think the bigger issue is scheduling. It’s going to get harder and harder to schedule a P4 team now that they are required to play 9 conference games.

 

[Kolumbo]

I think the bigger issue is scheduling. It’s going to get harder and harder to schedule a P4 team now that they are required to play 9 conference games.

Very true. I just meant in terms of Coach Mora and our situation. Sure our goal is to get to and win a bowl while being at a disadvantage to all other programs. Other than that and perhaps a set of steak knives, there really isn't any other objective. A head coach is going to want more than that.

 

[huskymedic]

The Athletic version: Regrading the wild 2021-22 coaching carousel: A for Marcus Freeman, C for Brian Kelly

-> UConn​

Out: Randy Edsall
In: Jim Mora

Original grades
The Athletic: C+
ESPN: B+
CBS Sports: B+

Regrade: A-

When Edsall was fired, some wondered what the point of UConn football even was anymore, especially after conference realignment and seven out of eight seasons with three wins or fewer. Hiring Mora, who’d had a moderately successful run at UCLA, was a splash. To everyone’s credit, Mora is 24-23 in four seasons, and UConn is one win away from a third bowl appearance in four years. <-

(In the can before the past weekend results)

 

[Slick]

He could have said it was a unique or challenging job. using the term weird to describe a head coaching job makes Forde looke like ane amateure

Forde hates UConn the better UConn does the madder he gets. If we had pulled out the overtime games he would be on suicide watch!

 

[LIUCHusky]

Why does Forde have an apparent dislike for UConn?

 

[mikedog10]

What Mora needs to really cement his legacy is for his young coordinators to develop and catch fire. I'm a Sammis fan, and he has me holding my breath that he is the real thing, court is still out. Liked the sounds of the Brock hire, hate the 3-3-5 and don't have confidence that he can successfully make adjustments. If one or both of these guys were to be the real deal(Head Coach in waiting material), Mora could start writing his book titled "How I saved UConn Football". Have no complaints about Coach Mora other than I'd rather be undefeated than 5-3.

I think this might be Sammis’s last season at UConn… he’s not going to have offensive weapons as talented and experienced as Bell and Fagnano anytime soon, so he’s going to try to capitalize on the eye-popping offensive numbers this season and get an OC gig at a P4 school.

 

[Husky25]

Mora is 63. Does anyone really think he wants to move on?

 

[Gburyhusky]

Mora is 63. Does anyone really think he wants to move on?

Hopefully he doesn't. For what its worth his father took the Indy Colts head coaching position at age 63.

 

[BigTenFan]

Mora is 63. Does anyone really think he wants to move on?

Cignetti is 64

 

[Husky25]

Cignetti is 64

All things are not equal. Mora makes $10M/4, after a 1/2 decade absence away from top level football.

Cignetti made less than $700K his final year at JMU and is getting over $11M at Indiana.

So, fine...if a program backs a Brinks up to his door in Glastonbury (or wherever), I could see him moving to Fayetteville (for example). I just don't see him leaving for a marginal increase in pay to restart his family's life for an 8th or 9th time.

 

[How Sway?!]

All things are not equal. Mora makes $10M/4, after a 1/2 decade absence away from top level football.

Cignetti made less than $700K his final year at JMU and is getting over $11M at Indiana.

So, fine...if a program backs a Brinks up to his door in Glastonbury (or wherever), I could see him moving to Fayetteville (for example). I just don't see him leaving for a marginal increase in pay to restart his family's life for an 8th or 9th time.

I think Coach Mora knows he has a good gig here. Relatively low expectations, very forgiving fan base, little media scrutiny, top G5 resources.

Only job that kind of worries me is VTech since they look to be serious about football again and perhaps Utah if it opens up. Other than that, I don't think he would be willing to deal with everything that comes with being the head coach in the SEC.

 

[UCMB88]

So, fine...if a program backs a Brinks up to his door in Glastonbury (or wherever)..

Mora lives in Storrs, in the old President's Residence on Oak Hill Rd.