It took the University of Connecticut just 11 days to find its new head football coach.
The school has hired University of Toledo head coach Jason Candle to become the 33rd head coach to lead the Huskies, UConn athletic director David Benedict announced Saturday.
Benedict said Candle, 46, agreed to a six-year deal through the 2031 season and that he will officially be announced during a press conference on Monday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“Jason’s track record speaks for itself — he is the winningest coach in Toledo history with 81 victories, two MAC (Mid-American Conference) championships, and a program that has consistently competed at the highest level,” Benedict said.
Candle completed his 10th season as head coach and 15th overall at Toledo this year, finishing with an 8-4 record.
Over that time,according to UConn, he has developed a reputation as a strong recruiter, with his recruiting classes ranked No. 1 in the MAC seven times in his 10 years as head coach. His 2024 class received the highest rating in MAC history.
Candle will succeed Jim Mora, who announced Nov. 25 that he had accepted the head coaching job at Colorado State University in Fort Collins.
Mora, who has both college and NFL experience, had been out of football for a few years when he was hired to coach the Huskies, who had gone 4-32 in the previous four seasons (UConn did not play in 2020).
In his four years his teams went 27-23, including back-to-back nine-win seasons the past two years, a first in school history. The Huskies also went 1-1 in bowl games, and are expected to play in a bowl game to be determined later this month.
Candle, 46, said he is honored to accept the offer from UConn.
“UConn is a prestigious institution and I’m grateful to David Benedict and the leadership team for entrusting me with this opportunity,” he said.
He added that UConn “has all the ingredients for success — outstanding facilities, passionate fans and a commitment to excellence.”
UConn hopes to build on its recent success as one of only two independent schools in football (along with Notre Dame) by gaining an invitation to a Power 4 conference, which would provide stronger financial support.
