Photo courtesy of (AP/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

In a stunning announcement, UConn Head Coach Randy Edsall has announced he is retiring at the end of the season. Edsall made the announcement this afternoon.

The news is surprising given how early in the season it is but in reality, it is not all that surprising. Edsall has had a hard time turning the program around since returning to Storrs in 2017.

In his first stint at UConn (1999-2010), Edsall took the program to new heights including a Fiesta Bowl appearance in 2011. He went 74-68 and took the Huskies to five bowl games amassing a 3-2 record in those games.

Unfortunately, his second stint at the school has been a disaster. He has gone 6-32 in three seasons plus the first two games of this season. The school has gone from being in the America East Conference to an independent. In the process, they have not been competitive and have become one of the worst programs in the country.

Whomever takes over for Edsall will have a lot of work to do to get the program turned around. The school has invested in football and wants to be good at the sport but they have to find a conference that works for the program and join it.

Life is hard for mid-major programs but it is even harder when you are an independent. UConn can be competitive in football. Finding the right guy and giving him time will be key.