Randy Edsall is stepping down immediately after saying he’d leave UConn at end of season

UConn head coach Randy Edsall is stepping down immediately instead of retiring at the end of the season as planned.

Well, this is awkward.

A day after UConn head coach revealed his plans to retire at the end of the season, the Huskies announced he is stepping aside immediately instead.

“Upon further reflection by both Randy and I, and after having the opportunity to visit with Randy today, we are both in agreement that it is in the best interest of our student-athletes to have a new voice leading UConn football,” athletic director David Benedict said in a statement.

Lou Spanos will take over for Randy Edsall for UConn

The new voice Benedict refers to there is defensive coordinator Lou Spanos, who has been named interim head coach.

“I have gotten to know Lou over the last two years and have great respect for him as a person and for his football acumen.  There is no doubt that Lou has the respect of the players and I look forward to supporting him and the team for the remainder of the 2021 season,” Benedict said.”

Spanos has been UConn’s defensive coordinator since 2019. He spent 2018 working as an analyst for Nick Saban’s Alabama. He was UCLA’s DC for 2012 and 2013. Sandwiching that tenure, he worked as a linebackers coach for the Washington Football Team and the Tennessee Titans.

UConn lost both of their first games of the season in embarrassing fashion. They were blown out by Fresno State and fell to FCS Holy Cross in what appeared to be the final straw for Edsall in his second stint with the program.

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