The college football coaching carousel is slipping into overdrive as the regular season nears an end. Another job opened up at the University of California, and another was filled yesterday in surprising fashion.
After firing Head Coach Jay Norvell earlier in the season, Colorado State’s search for Norvell’s replacement appeared to be focused on UCLA interim Head Coach Tim Skipper, North Dakota State’s Tim Polasek (who just signed a new seven-year contract extension) and Texas A&M Offensive Coordinator Collin Klein, a Colorado native who was actively interested in the job.
Instead, CSU Athletic Director John Weber fooled everyone, luring NFL veteran and current UConn head coach Jim Mora Jr. to Fort Collins. Mora informed UConn Athletic Director David Benedict and his coaching staff Tuesday evening that he was taking the job in Fort Collins.
Colorado State is one of four current members of the Mountain West conference who are leaving at the end of the school year to join the newly remodeled Pac 12, which will also include holdovers Washington State and Oregon State. The Beavers are also currently seeking a new head coach for their struggling program.
The Rams are 2-9 this season heading into the season finale with Air Force on Friday. They’re winless under interim Head Coach Tyson Summers. During last Saturday’s 49-21 loss at Boise State, things got even worse when quarterback Darius Curry – the third different QB to start for the Rams this season – was caught on camera spitting at Boise State’s Jayden Virgin-Morgan. CSU quickly suspended Curry for the last game of the season, meaning they will start yet another new signal caller against the Falcons.
The Mora hire has been met with enthusiasm and praise locally and nationally, and is expected to take some of the stain off the CSU program for the time being. UConn completed a 9-3 season last week, including a 10-point win over Air Force. Their season also included wins over ACC members Duke and Boston College. Mora went 27-23 in four seasons at UConn, reaching bowl eligibility three times and winning nine games in back to back seasons. The Huskies will play in a bowl game as an FBS independent in December.
He previously posted a 46-30 record as the head coach at UCLA over six-seasons. Mora’s teams won eight or more games four times and finished in ranked in the Top 25 twice. The Bruins won double-digit games those two seasons, which hasn’t been done at UCLA by anyone else this century. While coaching in the NFL, Mora took the Atlanta Falcons the 2004 NFC title game with an 11-4 record.
Colorado State is seen as one of the best non-Power Four jobs available, with excellent facilities, a thriving community and excellent NIL funding potential. Moving into the Pac 12 will increase the program’s exposure and heighten interest.
Along with losing their head coach, the Huskies program suffered another blow with the announcement when star running back Victor Rosa announced he was entering the Transfer Portal.
UConn has already launched a national search for Mora’s replacement.
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