Updated Head Coach Candidates for UConn (12/5)

While Jim Mora suddenly only departed for Colorado State in late November, there has already been plenty of movement during UConn’s job search. Here are five names to watch:

Gordon Sammis – UConn (Offensive Coordinator)

The skinny: Sammis was an offensive lineman at Virginia before beginning his collegiate coaching career with the Cavaliers in 2010 as a grad assistant. Since then, he had stops at Columbia, VMI, Lafayette, William & Mary and then UConn.

He arrived in Storrs with Mora, first as the offensive line coach and then for the last three seasons, as the offensive coordinator. While the offense struggled during his first season in charge, during the last two, the unit averaged 34.1 points per game. Sammis was named the interim head coach for the upcoming bowl game, which further shows how highly regarded he is within the program.

While not a big splash hire, the New Jersey native has quickly established himself as an up-and-coming young coach. Would the Huskies be willing to hand the program over to him as a first time head coach?

Tony Reno – Yale (Head Coach)

The skinny: Reno has spent most of his life in New England, and most of his collegiate career in the Ivy League at Yale. He has been the head coach of the Bulldogs since 2012 where he has compiled an 83-48 record. This included the Ivy League’s first every playoff victory on Saturday, as the Bulldogs defeated Youngstown State.

It is safe to assume that Reno is extremely comfortable in New Haven, but Storrs is only 60 miles away. That proximity may be enough to convince him that this is the opportunity that is right for him and his family.

Terry Smith – Penn State (Interim Head Coach)

The skinny: It has been a very interesting two months for Smith at Penn State. It took a while for his name to become a candidate in Happy Valley, but his work after James Franklin’s firing was appreciated by many. That is especially true for the players, who have fully embraced the thought of having him as the full-time coach. However, Penn State administration does not seem to feel the same way as they continue their search outside of Happy Valley.

His work this season and throughout his career, which has almost entirely been in the state of Pennsylvania, has caught the interest of others though. Both UConn and Memphis have been in touch, which makes him a viable candidate for either job considering the likelihood of him remaining at Penn State drops by the day. But would the new coach, whoever that may be, keep him on staff to try and reduce a mass exodus via the transfer portal?

Considering how long it has already taken Penn State to conduct this search, would UConn be willing to wait this out to see what Smith’s situation is once the Nittany Lions find a coach?