UConn Announces Jason Candle as New Head Football Coach (Updated)

[HuskyNan]

Candle's recruiting class at Toledo last year: 22 HS kids, 20 transfers.

Transfers were from: Ole Miss, West Virginia, Rutgers, 2 from Purdue, 2 from Wisconsin, Cincinnati, Michigan St., USF, Kentucky, Pitt, Sacred Heart, ECU, 2 from Northern Illinois, Holy Cross, UMass, FAU, NC A&T

 

[ZooCougar]

My criteria:

1. Successful Head Coach

2. Will bring talent and coaches with him

3. Wins in the portal

Fulfilled!

 

[Scoe]

Just a plethora of thoughts, mostly joyful.

Someone said that if he is successful he will probably be gone after three or four years. Well, maybe, but maybe not this time. If he is successful he will most likely have UConn on the verge of joining a P4, likely the ACC, when all the GOR's are and TV contracts are renegotiated in 2030/2031. That would be worth sticking around for I would think.

Lastly, on a slightly unrelated topic, it is just hilarious that a team that UConn beat is playing for the ACC championship tonight. Does that not prove that UConn is on a par with that league? Well, there is that little issue of consistency and can UConn do that repeatedly. This morning I am much more confident that goal can be met in the coming years.

Chances are he isn't looking to move to the Ohio mountains anytime soon seeing he's lived his whole life in Ohio. Perhaps he likes the area enough to raise a family and stay awhile.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Jimdish255]

Candle is the first UConn head coaching hire with roots on the offensive side of the ball since Skip Holtz I think. Don't know much about him but sounds like DB got the guy he wanted. Very good day for UConn Football!

View attachment 114284

Good point. I think he will be additive to Coach Sammis development as well if he remains on staff. But we might not know this for awhile. It's his team now and he has to do it his way.

Good luck and welcome to CT. Coach. Hope you and your family have a smooth transition and grow to love this region and the University which have a lot to offer.

 

[FfldCntyFan]

This has been my reaction since it was officially announced:

 

[Dove]

Him Candle

 

[ZooCougar]

 

[rich1122]

Holy Toledo.

Couldn’t resist.

 

[huskymedic]

-> Candle is expected to be introduced at UConn on Monday, and will attend the men’s basketball game against Florida at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. <-

 

[Stinger92860]

This means the end of the 3-3-5, correct?

 

[Palatine]

This means the end of the 3-3-5, correct?

His Toledo DC played a 4-3. But he has moved onto the DC position at Nebraska. Who knows?

 

[HuskyNan]

 

[storrsroars]

And I recognize baseball is different than college fb. You know there are yankee fans here right?

And you're all spoiled weenies ;-)

 

[ec33]

His Toledo DC played a 4-3. But he has moved onto the DC position at Nebraska. Who knows?

Yes, we have to wait for our DC hire.

I don't know enough about the offense that Candle runs to even begin to assess if Sammis is a good match. Hopefully they feel no pressure to "make it work" if there is a conflict.

Let the coach assemble his team.

 

[jostar1]

-> Candle is expected to be introduced at UConn on Monday, and will attend the men’s basketball game against Florida at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday. <-

I hope UConn treats his whole family to the game.

 

[ec33]

I have to stop underestimating UConn football and DB. I fully expected to check in and find that Candle has taken another opportunity (Tulane). It is impressive that they can sell him on UConn's potential future in a P4 conference.

 

[businesslawyer]

Seriously, I love the hire for UConn and it means bowl games forever.

But hearing, "never had a non-winning season" falls flat in these parts due to Mike Tomlin's lack of success in playoffs over the past decade.

Yes, I recognize college FB is different from pro. But the phrase is nails on a chalkboard at this point in Pittsburgh.

I do hope he keeps Sammis. I don't want our HC taking complete charge of either offense or defense. That's what OCs and DCs are for. There's a ton of other things an HC needs to manage.

We should care that a perfectly reasonable statement is “nails on a chalkboard” in Pittsburgh exactly why?

 

[Waquoit]

We should care that a perfectly reasonable statement is “nails on a chalkboard” in Pittsburgh exactly why?

Is there a more irrelevant city in American sports today than Pittsburgh?

 

[huskymedic]

His Toledo DC played a 4-3. But he has moved onto the DC position at Nebraska. Who knows?

-> Toledo AD Bryan Blair has made it known to folks within Toledo athletics they would like to retain Kehres; but it remains to be seen whether this is just a "we have our man already, I'm gonna go ahead and make this happen" or if they are planning a "national search in which Coach Kehres will be considered."

Big decision for Toledo and one that likely impacts whether or not they retain Kehres.

The reason I say that, is because based on the coach he is, and the performance of his units on the field, Kehres has fielded significant interest from other head coaches about joining their programs as defensive coordinator. Currently, Syracuse, Nebraska, UConn and another ACC program are all waiting for an answer from Kehres, several sources tell FootballScoop <-

 

[businesslawyer]

Right? I'd be extremely impressed if he had the onions to say "we're not gonna go that"; even more impressed if the players followed him anyway.

I don’t understand this either with Mora or Candle. Every football player and coach is basically a free agent every year. And coaches owe duties to their players as much as their schools. If a coach switches schools, and has an opportunity based on money and playing time that he thinks is good for a player of his, how is it being more ethical to deny the player that opportunity so as to not harm a former employer who hired you with you having every right to buy out of your contract early.

If the rights of the players are what is important, they should be able to hear attractive offers from anyone, former coach or not.

 

[Glastonhusky]

-> Toledo AD Bryan Blair has made it known to folks within Toledo athletics they would like to retain Kehres; but it remains to be seen whether this is just a "we have our man already, I'm gonna go ahead and make this happen" or if they are planning a "national search in which Coach Kehres will be considered."

Big decision for Toledo and one that likely impacts whether or not they retain Kehres.

The reason I say that, is because based on the coach he is, and the performance of his units on the field, Kehres has fielded significant interest from other head coaches about joining their programs as defensive coordinator. Currently, Syracuse, Nebraska, UConn and another ACC program are all waiting for an answer from Kehres, several sources tell FootballScoop <-

So, there's still a chance?

 

[maple]

Been at a brunch thing all morning so haven’t yet gotten a chance to read the BY.

Happy about this choice. Excited for the future. Let’s freaking GO.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Hopefully Sammis returns as OC

Id like him to stay, but I'm guessing he's going to bring the OC from Toledo with him

 

[NEforceUConn]

I don’t understand this either with Mora or Candle. Every football player and coach is basically a free agent every year. And coaches owe duties to their players as much as their schools. If a coach switches schools, and has an opportunity based on money and playing time that he thinks is good for a player of his, how is it being more ethical to deny the player that opportunity so as to not harm a former employer who hired you with you having every right to buy out of your contract early.

If the rights of the players are what is important, they should be able to hear attractive offers from anyone, former coach or not.

Did Adam Smith say that back in 1776?