UConn’s Edsall Retires; Spanos Named Interim Head Coach

Randy Edsall and director of athletics David Benedict have come to the mutual decision that it is in the best interest of the UConn football program for Edsall to step aside immediately as head football coach.

Edsall, who is in the fifth year of his second stint as the Huskies’ head coach, announced yesterday that he would retire at the end of the 2021 season.

Defensive coordinator Lou Spanos will serve as interim head coach for the remainder of the 2021 season.

“Upon further reflection by both Randy and I, and after having the opportunity to visit with Randy today, we are both in agreement that it is in the best interest of our student-athletes to have a new voice leading UConn football,” Benedict said.

Spanos has served as UConn’s defensive coordinator since the 2019 season and is a 26-year coaching veteran with previous experience in the NFL and college.

“I have gotten to know Lou over the last two years and have great respect for him as a person and for his football acumen.  There is no doubt that Lou has the respect of the players and I look forward to supporting him and the team for the remainder of the 2021 season.”

The decision to retire immediately comes following UConn’s 38-28 loss to Holy Cross in the Huskies’ home-opener on Saturday. Following the game, Edsall told reporters about his retirement plans at the end of the season.

“Back in 2017 I made a commitment to the University, but felt it was better to make this announcement now rather than the end of the year, to allow the university ample time to prepare for the future of the football program,” Edsall said in a statement after the game.

“All my focus and attention for the rest of the season will be to prepare our players and coaches to go out and win as many games as possible.”

Edsall, 63, went 74-70 at Connecticut during his first go-around from 1999 through the 2010 season, leading UConn into the bowl subdivision and winning Big East titles in 2007 and 2010. UConn went 3-9 during Edsall’s first season back, then went 1-11 and 2-10 before sitting out last season amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Huskies are in their first season as an independent program after leaving the American Athletic Conference in 2019.

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“While the program has been unable to recapture that level of success on the field during Randy’s second stint as our head football coach, the decision to retire at the end of the season was made by Randy,” Benedict said in a statement.

“As is the case with all our teams, I am constantly evaluating the football program and will continue to make decisions that I feel are in the best interest of our student-athletes.”