UConn HC Randy Edsall steps down, coaching search underway

UConn head coach Randy Edsall is stepping down immediately as head coach of the Huskies less than 24 hours after announcing 2021 would be his final season of coaching, reports The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman.

“Randy Edsall is now stepping down immediately as head coach,” Feldman said. “DC Lou Spanos will take over as interim HC. #UConn‘s next head coaching hire is going to be a critical one given the shaky state of this program now…”

Edsall’s retirement comes in the wake of a 38-28 loss to FCS opponent Holy Cross, dropping Uconn to 0-2 for the season.

UConn’s first loss of the season came at the hands of Fresno State in a 45-0 blowout in Week 0.

On Sunday, Randy Edsall announced he would be retiring at the end of the season in a statement.

“After 17 years of service at the University of Connecticut as its head football coach, I’ve decided to retire at the end of the season,” Edsall said. “Back in 2017, I made a commitment to the university, but felt it was better to make this announcement now rather than the end of the year, to allow the university ample time to prepare for the future of the football program.”

Plans seem to have changed, and defensive coordinator Lou Spanos will lead the Huskies the rest of the season.

Randy Edsall was four years into his second stint at UConn. He finishes with a 6-32 record since 2017. In Edsall’s first stint, from 1999 to 2010, UConn went 74-70 and reached five bowl games.

In UConn’s initial statement on Sunday, the school said a national search for Randy Edsall’s replacement will begin immediately.

Since joining the American Athletic Conference in 2013, UConn has won more than three games in a season just once, in 2015 under head coach Bob Diaco. UConn went 6-7 in 2015, and lost in the St. Petersburg Bowl.

Names to know on coaching search

Feldman noted ten names to know in the coaching search, as UConn enters a pivotal point in program history.

Among the ten, Feldman mentioned a few with UConn ties. Oregon offensive coordinator Joe Moorhead, Miami offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee and Ball State defensive coordinator Tyler Stockton have all spent time at UConn. Moorhead and Lashlee are former UConn offensive coordinators, while Stockton served as a UConn graduate assistant in the past.

Feldman also mentioned names like USC defensive coordinator Todd Orlando and Kentucky offensive coordinator Liam Coen as potential candidates for the job.

UConn faces off against Purdue on Saturday, Sep. 11.