UConn Football: Huskies hire Jason Candle, is it the right move?

It was officially announced that the UConn Huskies had come to an agreement with Toledo football head coach Jason Candle on a contract to make him the program’s 32nd head coach in history. This comes just over a week after losing Jim Mora to a head coaching position at Colorado State. After back-to-back nine-win seasons and a third bowl appearance in four years, fans feared that the program would take a step back again with Mora’s departure. Yet as Candle takes things over, the Huskies showed that they still clearly prioritize its football program.

But with Candle’s experience in the MAC, was he right hire? Can he not only keep the Huskies at a bowl level but improve upon their last few seasons? Can he finally create a program to be taken seriously for the foreseeable future?

UConn Football: Who is Jason Candle?

Candle comes to UConn after spending 10 seasons as the man in charge at Toledo in the MAC conference. In total, he spent 16 years with the Rockets, working specifically as an offensive assistant. His first experience came with Mount Union, where he was a wide receivers coach and offensive coordinator in his six years with the Purple Raiders at D-III. But the bulk of his experience came with Toledo, and that is the Candle that the Huskies are buying stock in.

Candle has been a hot commodity on the coaching market for a few years. He had reported interest from multiple P4 schools about bringing him as their next head coach. The most serious interest was from Miami, who wanted to bring him as their offensive coordinator. However, Candle stayed in Toledo, and now has accepted a position at Connecticut. While UConn isn’t a football school, Candle certainly sees the long-term benefit in joining one of the country’s best athletic departments.

What does he do well?

Candle’s success in the MAC can’t be questioned. In his 10 years, not once did he finish with a losing record. And, the team qualified for a bowl game in eight of those seasons. Not to mention, he also holds two MAC championships and MAC Coach of the Year Awards. Toledo even placed in the national AP Poll in 2023.

Candle is one of the best recruiters in the country, bringing talent through Toledo like no other school in the conference. His classes in 2024, 2025, and 2026 each topped each other for the best in the MAC history. In his time at Toledo, he brought in the best class in the MAC seven times. In the modern landscape of college football, Candle’s elite recruiting schools should serve him well with the Huskies.

At Toledo, he brought in future NFL stars to the program such as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell and New York Giants defensive tackle Darius Alexander. Not to mention, Kansas City Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt and Pro Bowl wide receiver Diontae Johnson in the past. Candle could look to build off of the NFL-level talent that Mora helped bring in to the program over the past few seasons in quarterback Joe Fagnano, wide receiver Skyler Bell, and linebacker Bryun Parham.

Candle also provides greater long-term potential at just 46 years old, as opposed to Mora who was entering his mid-60s. Think about some of college football’s biggest programs currently. Ohio State, Alabama, Notre Dame – they all have youthful coaches. If Candle is not viewed as a bridge-coach to get into a power-conference but more-so a long-term piece, he could have some staying power in Connecticut if things go well.

What are the concerns?

Many critics say he doesn’t do enough with what he has. It’s argued that he underachieved, wasting talent and failing to maximize his roster’s potential. In one of the weaker conferences in college football, critics view his two MAC championships in 10 years (and an inability to capture one over the past few seasons) as underwhelming given that he’s produced the greatest collection of talent in conference history. Especially when Candle entered a program that had already achieved consecutive winning, bowl-qualifying seasons, and national recognition in the AP Poll before he stepped in.

There are also concerns that Candle won’t match or live up to the immensely high expectations at Connecticut. After back-to-back nine-win seasons, the Huskies are no longer a bottom-feeder of the FBS. The goal over the next few seasons is to cement their dominance and earn a right to perform in a power conference. The basketball programs and other departments will begin to suffer if they don’t bring in the funding necessary on the gridiron. Since the Big East abolished its football conference in 2010, the Huskies have been looking for a suitor. Their inability to produce a high quality product on the field has hurt their case. They need to work fast and capitalize on their recent momentum.

And perhaps the biggest fear is that Candle won’t be able to coach this team through big games and big situations. Candle’s biggest criticism has been his X’s and O’s coaching as opposed to his recruiting. No one denies that he can put together a strong roster, but he can coach them to their maximum potential? The Huskies will need him to do so with more P4 and high-level G5 games on the docket next year than ever before.

Verdict: Was he a good hire?

Time will tell if this was the right decision. With that said, UConn needed to make this type of hire. This is most likely the most important hire in Connecticut history. The program couldn’t afford to ride with offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis or go in-house. The football program is here to stay, but how do they build off of their success?

Candle should be good for the job. He should bring strong talent to Connecticut, which should make them even more relevant. Part of what is missing with Candle is the stability that Mora brought as a veteran with NFL experience. This is Candle’s biggest job yet, will he be consistent enough at the biggest stage?

Overall, it was the right hire for the Huskies. UConn wasn’t going to get a P4 coach available in the open market, nor a strong G5 coach who was competing for a College Football Playoff position. The Huskies were in a tough spot as they’re not a bottom feeder, but most certainly not a CFP contender rich in resources. Candle was the type of guy to go after. It’s now up to him to see if he can live up to sky high expectations and elevate this football program into a power conference.