Randy Edsall led Connecticut to four straight bowl games before starting his ill-fated tenure as Maryland’s head football coach, and now he’s going back to the school where he had so much success.
The Hartford Courant was first to report that Edsall will be the replacement for recently fired head coach Bob Diaco in a stunning, though not totally unexpected, turn of events. The school later released a statemtent.
Just got the official release from the school, it's happening. Edsall discusses his departure from #UConn pic.twitter.com/Wxild2NM1e
— TheUConnBlog (@TheUConnBlog) December 28, 2016
ESPN’s Brett McMurphy reported that Edsall was a “very strong candidate” to return to UConn on Tuesday.
The Huskies likely weren’t competing with very many other schools, as Edsall had been serving as the Detroit Lions’ director of football research/special projects since his firing halfway through his last season at Maryland.
Edsall’s tenure with the Terps was almost universally derided, though he did do some things well. He improved the team’s academics tremendously during his time in College Park, and had things looking up before a disastrous beginning in 2015. His firing was reportedly imminent prior to the team’s loss to Ohio State, and athletic director Kevin Anderson pulled the trigger after that game.
Edsall coached at UConn for 11 years during his first go-round with the program, and undoubtedly still had some friends there despite leaving for Maryland without ever addressing his players.
"Certainly as I look back on it, I wish I had done things differently in that instance," Edsall said in a release. "I completely understand and respect that there are loyal fans, supporters and former players that still have not forgotten and it will take time to forgive. I have many incredible memories of my time at UConn and I hope the fans do too. It is my goal to get us back to that level of success and I hope that all of the Husky fans out there will be along for the ride."