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Jason Candle spent a decade turning Toledo into the winningest program in school history.
Now UConn is betting he can do the same for the Huskies.
Candle, 46, was introduced as the 33rd football coach in UConn program history last December. He takes over for Jim Mora, who left for Colorado State.
Over his 10 seasons at Toledo, Candle went 81-44, won two Mid-American Conference championships and never had a losing record building a reputation as one of the most consistent coaches in the Group of Five.
UConn signed Candle to a six-year deal as he will look to build on Mora’s back-to-back 9-3 seasons.
“I think this is a tremendous opportunity,” Candle said at his introductory news conference in December. “It’s a place that has accomplished so much in the last couple years. But to a certain extent, to have the opportunity to maybe wake up the echoes of the past too and take this into a different era of college football.”
Here’s what you need to know about UConn’s newest football coach.
Candle’s football career began in Salem, Ohio where he was a standout at West Branch High School. He went on to play wide receiver at Geneva College before transferring to Division III Mount Union where he was an all-conference selection and a two-time national champion.
Candle went right into coaching after his playing career ended, taking over as Mount Union’s wide receivers coach in 2003 and then as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2007. While on staff, Candle helped guide Mount Union to three Division III national titles.
Candle joined Toledo in 2009 as the Rockets’ slot receivers and tight ends coach under then head coach Tim Beckman. When Matt Campbell –– now the head coach at Penn State –– took over in 2011, he elevated Candle to offensive coordinator.
After 13 years as an assistant, Candle finally got his shot at being a head coach when Toledo elevated him to the position after Campbell left to coach Iowa State.
Over the next 10 years, Candle continued to elevate Toledo into one of the best mid-major programs in the country.
The Rockets won MAC titles in 2017 and 2022. Toledo went to seven bowl games under Candle, going 3-4. Candle won MAC coach of the year in 2017 and 2023 while never allowing his team to have a losing record.
Candle’s knack for spotting and developing talent stands out as one of his biggest selling points. Over his 10 seasons as Toledo's coach, 34 players went on to the NFL, with 10 of them getting drafted.
The headliner is cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, whom the Philadelphia Eagles took 22nd overall in 2024 –– the first Toledo player to go in the first round in more than three decades.
Candle also helped develop running back Kareem Hunt, who has long been a consistent running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Diontae Johnson, who made a Pro Bowl in 2021.
That track record traces back to Candle’s recruiting chops. Toledo landed in the top class in its conference seven times under Candle.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Who is Jason Candle? A look at UConn's new football coach
Continue reading...
Now UConn is betting he can do the same for the Huskies.
Candle, 46, was introduced as the 33rd football coach in UConn program history last December. He takes over for Jim Mora, who left for Colorado State.
Over his 10 seasons at Toledo, Candle went 81-44, won two Mid-American Conference championships and never had a losing record building a reputation as one of the most consistent coaches in the Group of Five.
UConn signed Candle to a six-year deal as he will look to build on Mora’s back-to-back 9-3 seasons.
“I think this is a tremendous opportunity,” Candle said at his introductory news conference in December. “It’s a place that has accomplished so much in the last couple years. But to a certain extent, to have the opportunity to maybe wake up the echoes of the past too and take this into a different era of college football.”
Here’s what you need to know about UConn’s newest football coach.
Humble beginnings
Candle’s football career began in Salem, Ohio where he was a standout at West Branch High School. He went on to play wide receiver at Geneva College before transferring to Division III Mount Union where he was an all-conference selection and a two-time national champion.
Candle went right into coaching after his playing career ended, taking over as Mount Union’s wide receivers coach in 2003 and then as the team’s offensive coordinator in 2007. While on staff, Candle helped guide Mount Union to three Division III national titles.
Success at Toledo
Candle joined Toledo in 2009 as the Rockets’ slot receivers and tight ends coach under then head coach Tim Beckman. When Matt Campbell –– now the head coach at Penn State –– took over in 2011, he elevated Candle to offensive coordinator.
After 13 years as an assistant, Candle finally got his shot at being a head coach when Toledo elevated him to the position after Campbell left to coach Iowa State.
Over the next 10 years, Candle continued to elevate Toledo into one of the best mid-major programs in the country.
The Rockets won MAC titles in 2017 and 2022. Toledo went to seven bowl games under Candle, going 3-4. Candle won MAC coach of the year in 2017 and 2023 while never allowing his team to have a losing record.
An eye for talent
Candle’s knack for spotting and developing talent stands out as one of his biggest selling points. Over his 10 seasons as Toledo's coach, 34 players went on to the NFL, with 10 of them getting drafted.
The headliner is cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, whom the Philadelphia Eagles took 22nd overall in 2024 –– the first Toledo player to go in the first round in more than three decades.
Candle also helped develop running back Kareem Hunt, who has long been a consistent running back for the Kansas City Chiefs, and Diontae Johnson, who made a Pro Bowl in 2021.
That track record traces back to Candle’s recruiting chops. Toledo landed in the top class in its conference seven times under Candle.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Who is Jason Candle? A look at UConn's new football coach
Continue reading...
