UConn’s Jim Mora posted back-to-back nine-win seasons, a first for the Huskies as an FBS program. So it wasn’t a surprise to see him depart to take the Colorado State job. Mora was linked to multiple jobs, so it seemed like only a matter of time before he left.
Now the Huskies must find his replacement. UConn is typically a tough place to win, and the new coach inherits a unique set of challenges when they take over the program. A coach with ties to the area makes sense, but there’s also a big name that could be in the mix.
1) Tony Reno: Yale
Reno’s familiar with the area, as he’s been an assistant and a head coach there since 2003. He took over as the head coach at Yale in 2012 and led the Bulldogs to an 84-48 record and five Ivy League championships.
The academic standards at Yale make recruiting tough, but Reno has proven he can identify the right type of player to fit his culture. As an independent, UConn faces unique challenges, so it will take a coach with a strong culture to win here.
2) Joe Moorhead: Akron
Akron isn’t in a great place thanks to a bowl ban, so it feels like only a matter of time before Moorhead departs. He started his tenure at Arkansas 4-20, but he’s made improvements in the last two seasons, and nearly won six games in 2025.
MORE: Heisman Trophy Rankings: 5 Players Who Strengthened Their Resume in Week 13
Moorhead is also familiar with the area. He held multiple positions with the Huskies, including offensive coordinator from 2009 to 2010. He has also held multiple head-coaching and offensive-coordinating positions since leaving UConn.
3) Jeff Monken: Army
As each year passes, the likelihood that Jeff Monken will leave seems to diminish. It might even be at zero, but that doesn’t stop the intrigue of him coaching somewhere else. Can you imagine UConn running the triple option?
Monken became a master of building his culture and battling through the recruiting challenges while coaching at Army. So UConn should be a breeze for him. He’s 58 years old, so he still has plenty of coaching left in the tank if he wants to. He’s also 125-78 as a head coach, so he knows how to build a winner.
4) Ryan Carty: Delaware
Carty’s a native to the Northeast, so there’s no one more naturally ready to lead a program in the area. Currently the head coach at Delaware, Carty has done a great job helping the Blue Hens make the transition to FBS and Conference USA.
They’re on the verge of making a bowl game in their first season as an FBS program, boosting Carty’s overall record to 31-17. He also coached at New Hampshire, so he understands the area better than most.
5) Chip Kelly: Unemployed
Chip Kelly? Seriously? Kelly’s recent firing by the Las Vegas Raiders has many wondering if he’ll return to college. Whether or not he wants to be a head coach again is the biggest question surrounding him.
Believe it or not, Kelly has plenty of experience in the area. He started his coaching career at Columbia and New Hampshire before taking the offensive coordinator job at Oregon in 2007. Kelly is a long shot here, but he would be a big splash for the Huskies to keep interest and excitement in the program.
