Colorado State hires coach Jim Mora away from UConn

Field Level Media|published: Wed 26th November, 09:17 2025

Sep 20, 2025; East Hartford, Connecticut, USA; Connecticut Huskies head coach Jim Mora watches from the sideline as they take on the Ball State Cardinals at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Jim Mora, who resurrected a floundering football program at UConn, has accepted the head coach job at Colorado State.

UConn athletic director David Benedict confirmed Mora's departure in a statement issued Wednesday morning.

"We are grateful for Coach Mora's contributions to UConn over the past four seasons," Benedict said. "He took on the challenge of rebuilding our football program and delivered results that exceeded expectations. ... Coach Mora brought energy and a winning culture back to UConn football and put our program back on the national stage."

Mora's teams posted a 27-23 record over four seasons, including a 9-3 mark in 2025 that gives the Huskies back-to-back nine-win campaigns for the first time in program history. The Huskies qualified for bowl games three times, including this season, and are looking for their first-ever 10-win season.

Before Mora's arrival in Storrs, Conn., the Huskies had won 10 games in their previous five seasons combined.

At Colorado State, the 64-year-old Mora will replace Jay Norvell, who was fired Oct. 19 after a loss to Hawaii left the Rams with a 2-5 record. Norvell had an 18-26 record overall.

Mora signed a four-year contract extension with UConn last December through the 2028 season that would have paid him just over $10 million.

Colorado State has yet to confirm the move, so no contract details were available early Wednesday.

At the time of Norvell's firing, Colorado State athletic director John Weber said the Rams needed a new direction.

"As we prepare to join the Pac-12 Conference next year, we need to position our program to compete at the highest level," he said. "While we've seen progress, a change in leadership is necessary to achieve the sustained excellence our program requires.

"We are continuing to invest and work hard to ensure that the football program and the next head coach have the resources needed to capitalize on this historic opportunity."

Under interim head coach Tyson Summers, the Rams have lost four consecutive games. They will end their season Saturday against Air Force.

At UConn, offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis was named interim head coach. The school statement said a national search for Mora's successor would begin immediately.

Mora previously was the head coach at UCLA and with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks of the NFL. His overall coaching record is 73-53 in college and 31-33 in the NFL.

--Field Level Media