COLLEGE FOOTBALL NEWS

UConn brings back Edsall as head coach

The Sports Xchange

December 28, 2016 at 12:48 pm.

Oct 10, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Randy Edsall reacts prior to kickoff versus the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Photo Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 10, 2015; Columbus, OH, USA; Maryland Terrapins head coach Randy Edsall reacts prior to kickoff versus the Ohio State Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium. Photo Credit: Joe Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports

Randy Edsall is returning for a second stint as head coach of the Connecticut Huskies, the school announced Wednesday.

Edsall, who coached UConn for 12 seasons before leaving in 2010, will be introduced at a press conference Friday.

“Coach Edsall is the right fit for our university, football program and student-athletes,” athletic director David Benedict said in a statement. “He led UConn to its most successful period in the history of our football program, and I believe he will provide consistent leadership and long-term success once again.”

Edsall coached UConn from 1999 to 2010 before becoming head coach at Maryland. He was fired six games into the 2015 season, and was 22-34 in his four-plus seasons at Maryland.

Edsall, the winningest football coach in UConn history, was 74-70 and went to five bowls with the Huskies. He led the UConn program from Division I-AA to Division I-A in 2002, the Huskies’ first season as a full member of the FBS.

“It is an honor to have the opportunity to rejoin and lead the UConn program,” Edsall said in a statement released by the school. “I want to thank President (Susan) Herbst, Athletic Director David Benedict and the rest of the administration for believing I am the right person to build this program and develop its student-athletes. I look forward to working with David, our student-athletes and the entire athletic department.”

The 58-year-old Edsall is 96-104 overall in 17 years at UConn and Maryland.

Edsall has been the director of research/special projects for the Detroit Lions this season.

Lions coach Jim Caldwell told reporters Wednesday he is prepared to make the necessary adjustments with Edsall leaving.
“We’ve certainly been there before,” Caldwell said. “We’ve had experience with guys that have taken college jobs, in particular, and had to balance out work between here and there. It kind of depends, each situation is a little bit different.”

Edsall replaces Bob Diaco, who was fired Monday after 11-26 in his three seasons at UConn. Diaco is officially out of the a job on Jan. 2 and owed a $3.4 million buyout.
The Huskies were 3-9 this season and finished in a three-way tie for last place in the American Athletic Conference East division.