UConn Huskies hire Randy Edsall
By Adam Stocker
Randy Edsall returns to UConn for second tour of duty as head coach
Six years after leaving Connecticut for Maryland, Randy Edsall is returning to be the head coach of the Huskies. From 1999 until 2010, Edsall was UConn’s head coach. In 12-years with the Huskies, Edsall compiled a 74-70 record. Edsall holds the school record for most wins by a head coach. In 2007 and 2010, Edsall lead UConn to the Big East conference championship.
This past season, UConn went 3-9 under Bob Diaco. The program has not had a winning season since Edsall won the Big East title in 2010. Since Edsall left, UConn has gone 24-49.
Randy Edsall reaches agreement to be UConn’s coach, source told @ESPN. Also reported by TMG College Sports & Hartford Courant
— Brett McMurphy (@Brett_McMurphy) December 28, 2016
After leading UConn to the Fiesta Bowl in 2010, Edsall accepted the head coaching position at Maryland. But Edsall’s time at College Park was not very successful. In five season at the helm of the Terrapins, Edsall’s teams went just 22-34. Maryland fired Edsall six games into the 2015 season. Maryland’s decision came only ten weeks after giving him a three-year extension.
UConn hired Paul Pasqualoni to replace Edsall. But Pasqualoni was fired after just 28 games. Pasqualoni went 10-18 in his tenure as head coach. UConn fired Bob Diaco the day after Christmas following a forgettable three-year tenure in charge of the Huskies. In three seasons, Diaco went just 11-26.
Edsall joins a long list of college football coaches who have had two non-consecutive tenures as head coach at the same school. Bobby Petrino left the University of Louisville for the Atlanta Falcons in 2006. Only to return to lead the Cardinals again eight years later.
Other notable coaches to left a school and return years later includes, Johnny Majors (Pitt, 1973-76, 1993-96), John Robinson (USC, 1976-82, 1993-97), Bill Walsh (Stanford, 1977-78, 1992-94) and Chris Ault (Nevada, 1976-92, 94-95 and 2004-2012).