Stature and coaches, 1979–2026
The program’s standing over time, with every coach’s tenure beneath it — read down to see who was there for each rise and fall.
DynastyBlue BloodPower ProgramNational ProgramRegional Program
Run↔pass identity, by season
Every coach
Big movers show how many stature points they built or lost against what they inherited; steadier tenures show the tier they reached instead. A small blue arrow marks a real System Shift at that changeover — how hard the offense’s run/pass identity flipped.
2025
Gordon Sammis Short tenure
2025 defense ranked in the 4th percentile nationally — historically bad
0-1
2022–2025
Jim Mora Steady
Jim Mora moved UConn from Regional Program V to Regional Program IV in 4 seasons.
2025 defense ranked in the 4th percentile nationally — historically bad
+5.2 pts over 4 seasons · top 13% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Tom Coughlin’s Boston College run (1991–1993)
4th-best UConn tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Lou Spanos (2021) · succeeded by Jason Candle (2026–now).
System Shift, on arrival
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||
| Record | 6-7 | 3-9 | 9-4 | 9-3 | |
| Postseason | L bowl | — | W bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #111 | #123 | #118 | #114 | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||
| Pass rate | 34.5 | 49.2 | 43.7 | 52.9 | |
| Coordinators | |||||
| OC | Nick Charlton | Nick Charlton | Gordon Sammis | Gordon Sammis | |
| DC | Lou Spanos | — | Matt Brock | Matt Brock | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||
| Offense | 13 | 14 | 47 | 86 | |
| Defense | 61 | 30 | 81 | 4 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||
| 1st-down pass% | 21.9 | 41.2 | 40.2 | 52.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 30.5 | 38.0 | 38.1 | 42.7 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 32.4 | 25.7 | 14.0 | 32.6 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Performs about as expected for his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
-0.4 pts
#112 of 208 · middle half
Defense vs. talent
+2.4 pts
#87 of 208 · middle half
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Roster construction · portal era
A typical amount of portal roster-building.
Portal arrivals
68
3.0★ avg rating
Portal departures
72
left via the portal
Net portal flow
-4
#57 of 187 FBS stints
Who they bring in
Typical size for position, once adjusted for position mix.
Recruits older, more experienced transfers than most.
Avg. size (raw)
6′2″, 228 lbs
across 58 of 68 arrivals — unadjusted for position mix
Size vs. position-typical
+2.5 lbs
#184 of 255 · middle half
Avg. class year
Sr
#1 of 255 · top quarter
Top states: GA (8), CA (7), FL (4), TX (3), MD (3)
Who won the portal our read
Talent added
55.9
position-weighted
Talent lost
55.5
position-weighted
Net
+0.5
arrivals minus departures
Best addition: Nick Evers (QB) from Wisconsin
Biggest loss: Steven Krajewski (QB) to Georgia State
Position-value-weighted (QB/CB weighted highest, depth-decayed within each position) — the same scoring engine as the Portal Heat feed, not a separate grade.
Roster size, by position
Skill positions · usage-weighted (real participation)
Quarterback
211 lbs
6′2″ avg · #439 of 767 · middle half
Running back
199 lbs
5′10″ avg · #642 of 791 · bottom quarter
Wide receiver
193 lbs
6′0″ avg · #398 of 791 · middle half
Tight end
248 lbs
6′5″ avg · #248 of 731 · middle half
Trench & secondary · recruited roster, not confirmed starters
Interior line
303 lbs
6′6″ avg · #613 of 779 · bottom quarter
D-line
271 lbs
6′4″ avg · #651 of 753 · bottom quarter
Linebacker
227 lbs
6′2″ avg · #465 of 772 · middle half
Cornerback
188 lbs
6′0″ avg · #505 of 771 · middle half
Offensive-line size is one undifferentiated bucket — the source data almost never distinguishes tackle from guard from center, so we can't split them out.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Buys Interior line via the portal
67%
#27 of 224 stints
Buys Athlete via the portal
17%
#30 of 146 stints
Postseason detail2022: Lost to Marshall 14-28 Myrtle Beach Bowl2024: Beat North Carolina 27-14 Wasabi Fenway Bowl
3 NFL Draft picks: Christian Haynes (2024), Chase Lundt (2025), Skyler Bell (2026)
1 player-season honored (All-America / national award): Skyler Bell (2025)
+5.2
27-23
2021
Lou Spanos Short tenure
2021 offense ranked in the 1th percentile nationally — historically bad
1-9
2000–2010, 2017–2021
Randy Edsall Steady
Randy Edsall held UConn at National Program II for 14 seasons.
2008 defense ranked in the 100th percentile nationally — elite
1st-best UConn tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Walt Nadzak (1979) · succeeded by Paul Pasqualoni (2011–2013) · returned in 2017, succeeding Bob Diaco (2014–2016) · succeeded by Lou Spanos (2021).
| Season | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | |||||||||||||||||
| Record | 3-8 | 2-9 | 6-6 | 9-3 | 8-4 | 5-6 | 4-8 | 9-4 | 8-5 | 8-5 | 8-5 | 3-9 | 1-11 | 2-10 | 0-0 | 0-2 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | — | W bowl | — | — | L bowl | W bowl | W bowl | L bowl | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | — | — | — | — | #83 | #69 | #93 | #60 | #81 | #81 | #84 | #101 | #102 | #116 | #118 | — | |
| Style — pass rate | |||||||||||||||||
| Pass rate | — | — | — | — | 52.4 | 38.7 | 39.2 | 40.3 | 37.2 | 41.5 | 41.6 | 46.4 | 41.2 | 47.2 | — | — | |
| Coordinators | |||||||||||||||||
| OC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Rhett Lashlee | John Dunn | Frank Giufre | Frank Giufre | — | |
| DC | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | Billy Crocker | Billy Crocker | Lou Spanos | Lou Spanos | — | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | |||||||||||||||||
| Offense | — | — | — | — | 72 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 41 | 48 | 14 | 17 | 24 | 7 | — | — | |
| Defense | — | — | — | — | 81 | 99 | 37 | 46 | 100 | 25 | 60 | 8 | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | |||||||||||||||||
| 1st-down pass% | — | — | — | — | 43.5 | 36.8 | 27.9 | 32.5 | 31.1 | 35.4 | 31.8 | 41.4 | 31.1 | 43.6 | — | — | |
| Red-zone pass% | — | — | — | — | 47.0 | 32.5 | 33.3 | 30.0 | 32.2 | 21.3 | 32.7 | 36.5 | 35.2 | 49.2 | — | — | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | — | — | — | — | 34.3 | 16.2 | 26.3 | 14.7 | 2.2 | 24.4 | 21.2 | 46.0 | 48.3 | 27.3 | — | — | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent, on both sides of the ball.
Offense vs. talent
-27.5 pts
#196 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
-41.2 pts
#207 of 208 · bottom quarter
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Rhett Lashlee → John Dunn · 2018
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 41.4% → 31.1% (-10.3 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 53% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
OC: John Dunn → Frank Giufre · 2019
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 31.1% → 43.6% (+12.5 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 3% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
DC: Billy Crocker → Lou Spanos · 2019The system held
2-season window either side.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Kicker from high school
100%
#52 of 56 stints
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Postseason detail2004: Beat Toledo 39-10 Bowl2007: Lost to Wake Forest 10-24 Bowl2008: Beat Buffalo 38-20 International Bowl2009: Beat South Carolina 20-7 PAPAJOHNS.com BOWL2010: Lost to Oklahoma 20-48 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl
17 NFL Draft picks: Alfred Fincher (2005), Dan Orlovsky (2005), Deon Anderson (2007), Tyvon Branch (2008), Donald Thomas (2008), Donald Brown (2009), Darius Butler (2009), Will Beatty (2009) + 9 more
National Program II
76-95
2014–2016
Bob Diaco Steady
Bob Diaco slid UConn from National Program III to Regional Program I in 3 seasons.
2016 offense ranked in the 3th percentile nationally — historically bad
−10.4 pts over 3 seasons · bottom 12% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Chris Ash’s Rutgers run (2016–2019)
3rd-best UConn tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Paul Pasqualoni (2011–2013) · succeeded by Randy Edsall (2017–2021).
System Shift, on departure
| Season | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 2-10 | 6-7 | 3-9 | |
| Postseason | — | L bowl | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #109 | #99 | #99 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 46.2 | 41.8 | 47.6 | |
| Coordinators | ||||
| OC | Mike Cummings | Frank Verducci | Frank Verducci / David Corley Jr. | |
| DC | Anthony Poindexter | Anthony Poindexter | Anthony Poindexter | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 7 | 12 | 3 | |
| Defense | 44 | 81 | 36 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 39.8 | 35.7 | 42.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 34.6 | 30.7 | 32.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 25.0 | 26.1 | 36.7 | |
Recruiter or developer?
Underperforms his recruiting talent on offense and performs about as expected for his recruiting talent on defense.
Offense vs. talent
-37.0 pts
#207 of 208 · bottom quarter
Defense vs. talent
+13.0 pts
#59 of 208 · middle half
Recruiting talent is team-wide (no offense/defense split exists in the source data) -- both sides are scored against the same talent input, only the outcome is side-specific.
Does the system survive a coordinator change?
OC: Mike Cummings → Frank Verducci · 2015
1-season window either side — numbers shown, not enough to badge a verdict.
1st-down pass rate: 39.8% → 35.7% (-4.1 pts)
Confound, shown not hidden: only 27% of offensive production returned the year the coordinator changed — the roster turned over at the same time, not just the play-caller.
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Running back from high school
100%
#196 of 208 stints
Postseason detail2015: Lost to Marshall 10-16 St. Petersburg Bowl
3 NFL Draft picks: Byron Jones (2015), Geremy Davis (2015), Obi Melifonwu (2017)
−10.4
11-26
2011–2013
Paul Pasqualoni Steady
Paul Pasqualoni slid the Huskies from National Program II to National Program III in 3 seasons.
No outlier style signal this stint
−2.5 pts over 3 seasons · top 47% of 3-5-season tenures (717 in sample)
Closest comparable run: Ron Turner’s Florida International run (2013–2016)
2nd-best UConn tenure of 4 by the numbers.
Followed Randy Edsall (2000–2010) · succeeded by Bob Diaco (2014–2016).
System Shift, on arrival
| Season | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Record & result | ||||
| Record | 5-7 | 5-7 | 0-4 | |
| Postseason | — | — | — | |
| Recruiting rank | #79 | #72 | #62 | |
| Style — pass rate | ||||
| Pass rate | 43.5 | 48.1 | 53.1 | |
| Outcome — opponent-adjusted efficiency percentile | ||||
| Offense | 13 | 8 | 18 | |
| Defense | 58 | 79 | 70 | |
| Tendencies — play-by-play, neutral script | ||||
| 1st-down pass% | 33.0 | 36.3 | 50.0 | |
| Red-zone pass% | 24.6 | 28.6 | 30.4 | |
| 4th-down go%opp. territory | 7.9 | 9.1 | 27.8 | |
Where the roster comes from, by position
Grows Tight end from high school
100%
#164 of 188 stints
Grows Edge from high school
100%
#191 of 208 stints
8 NFL Draft picks: Kendall Reyes (2012), Dwayne Gratz (2013), Sio Moore (2013), Blidi Wreh-Wilson (2013), Trevardo Williams (2013), Ryan Griffin (2013), Shamar Stephen (2014), Yawin Smallwood (2014)
−2.5
10-18
1979
Walt Nadzak Short tenure
3-6-2