Ex-Seahawks coach Jim Mora returning to Pac-12 with Colorado State

STORRS, Conn. (AP) — Jim Mora built UConn into a winning program. Now he will try to do the same at Colorado State.

Ex-UW Huskies DC fired as Cal coach; ex-WSU coach Rolovich takes over

Colorado State announced Wednesday that it had hired Mora, who has led UConn to nine wins each of the last two seasons. Now the former Seattle Seahawks and UCLA coach is heading west again to help Colorado State adjust to its move to the Pac-12 next year.

Mora was a UW Huskies defensive back and linebacker in the early 1980s who started his coaching career with his alma mater as a graduate assistant in 1984.

“I am truly humbled to join CSU as we transition to the Pac-12 Conference,” Mora said in a statement released by the university. “I am excited to meet the team and look forward to connecting with the former players. I can’t wait for our family to become part of the northern Colorado community.”

The Rams will join a reformed Pac-12 in 2026 that will also include the WSU Cougars, Oregon State, Boise State, Fresno State, San Diego State, Texas State and Utah State in football.

Colorado State has scheduled an introductory news conference for Monday.

“Our goal from the very start was to execute a comprehensive search to find the next leader of the Colorado State football program,” Colorado State athletic director John Weber said in a statement. “We did that, and it was extremely energizing to have such significant interest from so many accomplished coaches. From our very first conversation, Coach Mora’s desire to serve student-athletes, his comprehensive experience, and passion to win was evident.”

The 64-year-old Mora, who spent four seasons as an NFL head coach with the Atlanta Falcons and Seahawks, produced a 27-23 record in four years at UConn. The Huskies are 9-3 this season, and each of their three losses went to overtime.

“Coach Mora brought energy and a winning culture back to UConn football and put our program back on the national stage,” UConn athletic director David Benedict said. “We thank Jim for his dedication to our student-athletes and wish him, his wife Kathy and his family the best at Colorado State.”

Benedict said offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis is taking over as interim head coach while UConn conducts a national search for Mora’s permanent successor.

Colorado State fired Jay Norvell on Oct. 19. Norvell was in his fourth season and owned an 18-26 record, including an 8-5 mark and an Arizona Bowl appearance last year.

That 8-5 mark last year represented Colorado State’s first winning season since 2017.

The Rams were 2-5 when Norvell got fired and have lost all four games since with defensive coordinator Tyson Summers working as their interim head coach. Colorado State (2-9) closes its season Friday at Air Force (3-8).

Colorado State has been part of the Mountain West Conference but will join the new version of the Pac-12 this summer. Mora had coached in a Pac-12 that looked dramatically different during his years at UCLA.

Mora’s stint at UConn represented a career comeback. He posted a 46-30 record at UCLA from 2012-17 and then was out of coaching and working as a television analyst until UConn hired him.

UConn went 6-7 and 3-9 in Mora’s first two seasons before going 18-7 over the last two seasons. The Huskies went 9-4 and won the Fenway Bowl last year for their first bowl victory since the 2009 season.

Mora went 26-22 as the Falcons’ head coach from 2004-06 and was 5-11 with the Seahawks in 2009.

Seattle Sports staff made additions to this post.

Former WSU football assistant lands HC job at Oklahoma State

Related

Why Brock says UW Huskies will be ‘very relevant’ in CFP conversationCollege football rule changes include change to targeting penaltyDemond Williams Jr. seamlessly leading UW Huskies after awkward near-departure6 college football coaches under the most pressure this seasonCollege sports bill stuck in Senate, potential vote delayedGonzaga adds 2 transfers amid NCAA’s “5-in-5” chaos