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

[RioDog]

Do you mean tOSU?

TBH I enjoy calling them Toss-U. Almost as much fun as Sun-Jay.

 

[uconnric]

Yeah, I don't understand this trend of coaches leaving on a bad note. It's hard on everyone. There is no need to make it personal or derogatory. the former coach and millen, not sure why they felt the need to go low like that.

Regarding pizza, I think we stick to what we do best in CT. Coach Candle's been around, I'm sure he's tried it all. I think it is our responsibility to feed him up the best pizza in the world. If he ever leaves CT, he can reminisce about how he had the best pizza ever and never went back - to whatever blocks of dough they serve in the mid-west. I mean, if it's a dealbreaker, then sure, find a local to buy some square sheets and make whatever he wants.

Who said Mora left on a bad note? We were lucky to have the guy. You seem to know what his relationship was with the players, please explain.

 

[Kolumbo]

Who said Mora left on a bad note? We were lucky to have the guy. You seem to know what his relationship was with the players, please explain.

there are hundreds of posts, here and on social media, criticizing him for how he left and why people are upset with him. you can surely find them.

 

[JohnFSilver]

Rather spend my money elsewhere. We have three guys incubating, so we don’t know.

Agree here. Evers, McDonald. I think it needs to be a competion but Evers seems to be on track and productive.

 

[JohnFSilver]

i heard UConn hired a coach. Nice.
IDK anything about the guy except he has a solid winning record in the MAC, which doesn't exactly pump me up per se, but talent is talent, even if it comes from the MAC. Absolutely hoping for the best with coach Candle. Congrats sir.

On another note, I believe in integrity and I hope he refuses to (actively) pursue any toledo players to UConn. I don't care if we benefit, and everyone else is doing it. It's wrong, IMO. You recruited before, you can do it again, leave Toledo alone to lick their wounds and recover without pouring salt into it. Move on.

If the player insists, that's different. But don't chase anyone, leave them alone.

Integrity is for those who already have fortune, or those who don't want fortune.

 

[gsmooth]

 

[Purple Stein]

From what I’ve seen Toledo fans aren’t very sad to see him go. and the consensus seems to be that he has done less with more compared with the rest of the conference.

So I am slightly concerned about the hire, but hoping it all works out.

There are going to be warts on every new hire. Yes, Toledo fans seem to think his teams underperformed his recruiting.

Toledo was also the most penalized team in FBS last year (a stark difference from Mora's UConn which was the 18th least penalized). They were near worst in penalties the year before as well I believe. Not popular stuff to talk about during the honeymoon phase.

I'm sure there will be ups and downs and we'll win some we should have lost and lose some we should have won, and maybe we'll write a lot of thread screaming about penalties. But I'm gonna guess that if Candle gives us 5 years, we may have a couple of pretty special seasons. That's a homerun hire IMHO.

 

[Patman]

There are going to be warts on every new hire. Yes, Toledo fans seem to think his teams underperformed his recruiting.

Toledo was also the most penalized team in FBS last year (a stark difference from Mora's UConn which was the 18th least penalized). They were near worst in penalties the year before as well I believe. Not popular stuff to talk about during the honeymoon phase.

I'm sure there will be ups and downs and we'll win some we should have lost and lose some we should have won, and maybe we'll write a lot of thread screaming about penalties. But I'm gonna guess that if Candle gives us 5 years, we may have a couple of pretty special seasons. That's a homerun hire IMHO.

so sounds like a great off field coach and man motivator but not so hot on the x's and o's. this is where coaches make a big difference but I find this acceptable for a head coach.

 

[SinBin]

I am stunned that Benedict was able to pull this off. Candle has had a lot of offers to leave Toledo at various points these last few years and never jumped. For him to make a move to UCONN speaks absolute volumes about the school's commitment to ensuring the program continues on the trajectory that began under Mora. Benedict could not have nailed this more perfectly. Give that man a Christmas bonus, LOL.

I am more than a bit curious to see if any of the guys who hopped in the portal decide to rethink their decision. Also you have got to wonder if some of our '25 recruits that flipped to CSU are having second thoughts because I damn sure know I would.

Couldn't resist 🎅

 

[Samoo]

I said he was a professional. He came into and brought the program into the 2020’s. You almost had the feeling that he would do what needed to be done to straighten things out, then ride off into the sunset ala the Lone Ranger. Everyone needs to admit that the program he left us is in far superior shape than what he found. I was hoping for 6-6 in a couple of years. We have the possibility of winning more games than any UConn team ever this year. I don’t know his name, but he left this silver bullet😁

Who knows, this may have been part of the original negotiations in Idaho - give us four solid years and then you can head back west. It would certainly explain the various rumors about the resume being sent to CSU, etc. Doesn't gybe with the Mora/Millen negative comments, but who knows other than Mora and Benedict. They certainly wouldn't have told anyone, or it would have impacted recruiting, attendance and general fan interest.

 

[RedStickHusky]

Don't forget energy vampires and trophies with St Cloud State.

non-key starters

 

[UConnJim]

Who knows, this may have been part of the original negotiations in Idaho - give us four solid years and then you can head back west. It would certainly explain the various rumors about the resume being sent to CSU, etc. Doesn't gybe with the Mora/Millen negative comments, but who knows other than Mora and Benedict. They certainly wouldn't have told anyone, or it would have impacted recruiting, attendance and general fan interest.

After the first 2 years at UConn, some would have labeled Mora’s tenure as mediocre at best. The last 2 years changed his perception and opened an opportunity, but I think he would have preferred a P4 job, but there wasn’t interest.

 

[Bongo Fury]

As PAL said, JM left for more of a work life balance. Can hike a mountain anytime he wants and still coach football. Thankful that he came and left UConn in much better shape. JC is leaving a place that he has been his whole life and where he feels comfortable. He going to UConn solely to coach football. Maybe he has something to prove?