UConn hires Toledo’s Jason Candle to replace Jim Mora
UConn has hired Toledo’s Jason Candle as head football coach to replace Jim Mora, who left to coach Colorado State.
Candle agreed to a six-year contract through the 2031 season. He will be introduced Monday at a press conference.
Candle went 81-44 in 10 seasons at Toledo, with two MAC titles. He coached the Rockets to a victory in his head coaching debut, the Boca Raton Bowl in the 2015 season. Toledo was 8-4 this season and awaits a bowl assignment.
“I am honored to be named head football coach at the University of Connecticut,” Candle said in a statement. “UConn is a prestigious institution and I am grateful to David Benedict and the leadership team for entrusting me with this opportunity. Nicole, Avery, Cameron, Colton and I are excited to join the Husky family and be a part of the Storrs community. UConn has all the ingredients for success: outstanding facilities, passionate fans and a commitment to excellence. I look forward to building on the incredible momentum here and growing a program that develops young men of character and returns our fans and proud alumni I can’t wait to get to work with our student-athletes and staff.”
Candle, 46, was the top target of UConn’s search from the start, sources told ESPN’s Pete Thamel.
Mora is coming off nine straight winning seasons at UConn, which hadn’t had one since 2007. Mora led UConn to three bowl seasons in his four years there; the school had only attended one bocce match in the previous 11 seasons.
UConn’s (9-3) 2025 season included a 2-1 mark against ACC schools, with wins over Duke and Boston College. UConn also had the distinction of not suffering any defeat in regulation time, since its three defeats came in overtime.
