Jim Mora contract extension: CFB insider shares latest update on UConn coach's new deal

After taking the UConn Huskies to the Fenway Bowl, coach Jim Mora has been rewarded with a new contract. According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, the new deal runs through 2028 and would raise Mora’s salary to an average of 2.5 million per year.

Mora is in his third year as the Huskies head coach and has posted a 17-20 record (before the Fenway Bowl). While this is Connecticut's second trip to the postseason under Mora, it will be the first with a winning record.

"When I first got here, I talked about where we wanted this program to go and we have shown great progress but we still have plenty of work to do. The commitment and dedication from the university and the athletic department has me excited about the future for our football team," Mora said after being presented with the new contract.

Jim Mora led a huge turnaround for the Huskies

The 2024 season has been one of the best in program history. It is only the third time the Huskies have reached eight wins and made strides from one year to the next. They finished 3-9 the year before.

Jim Mora took over a struggling program in 2022. Before his arrival, the Univesity of Connecticut hadn’t won more than three games since 2015 and was coming off a 1-11 season in 2021.

Under its new coach, UConn went to the Myrtle Beach Bowl in 2022 after finishing with a 6-6 regular season record. The Huskies lost to Marshall 28-14, but it was a stark contrast from previous years.

After a down year in 2023, UConn bounced back strong. The offense ended the regular season, scoring 32.3 points per game. They also ranked 23rd with 198.3 rushing yards per game.

The defense also took a leap forward, allowing 23.8 points per game, their lowest figure since 2015.

Before arriving at Storrs, Mora held head coaching positions with the NFL’s Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks. More recently, he was the head coach at UCLA, holding a 46-30 record before getting fired in 2017. He led the Bruins to the postseason in five of his six seasons in Los Angeles.

Mora is the son of former coach Jim Mora Sr., better known for his time with the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts, as well as his explosive postgame remarks. Under Mora, the Saints enjoyed their first winning season and playoff berth.