Colorado State to Hire UConn’s Jim Mora as Head Football Coach

Colorado State University is set to hire Jim Mora as its new head football coach, according to multiple sources reported by ESPN. This decision comes as the university prepares to join the Pac-12 Conference and aims to enhance its competitiveness in college athletics. The formal announcement is expected to be made in the near future.

Mora, who recently concluded a successful tenure at the University of Connecticut (UConn), led the team to back-to-back nine-win seasons. Notably, UConn had not achieved nine wins in a season since 2007. Under his leadership, the program reached three bowl games in just four years, a significant improvement given that the school had participated in only one bowl game during the previous eleven years.

The hiring of Mora marks a new chapter for Colorado State, which has seen a revolving door of head coaches in recent years. Mora will be the fourth coach since 2019, following Mike Bobo, Steve Addazio, and Jay Norvell. The university dismissed Norvell last month during his fourth season, as the team has only competed in one bowl game since 2017.

Mora brings a wealth of experience to Fort Collins, having served as the head coach at UCLA for six seasons, where he secured eight or more wins in four years. Throughout his ten seasons as a college head coach, he has compiled a record of 73-53. Additionally, Mora has two stints as an NFL head coach, with the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons, and nearly two decades of experience as an assistant coach and coordinator in the NFL.

In his final season at UConn in 2025, Mora’s team achieved a record of 9-3, including a commendable 2-1 record against teams from the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), highlighted by victories over Duke and Boston College. Remarkably, UConn finished the season without a regulation loss, as all three of its defeats came in overtime. Quarterback Joe Fagnano had an outstanding season, throwing for 28 touchdowns with only one interception.

As Colorado State prepares for its transition to the Pac-12, new athletic director John Weber has expressed ambitions for the university to compete at the highest levels of college football. The school recently opened a new stadium, with an investment exceeding $200 million, reflecting its commitment to becoming a contender among the top Group of 5 schools.

With Mora at the helm, Colorado State hopes to revitalize its football program and make significant strides towards competing for a place in the College Football Playoff. The hiring marks a pivotal moment for the university as it seeks to enhance its profile in the competitive landscape of college athletics.