Nov 14, 2021; Hartford, Connecticut, USA; The new UConn Huskies Football head coach Jim Mora address the Huskies women s basketball crowd during a break in the action against the Arkansas Razorbacks at XL Center. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Jim Mora has already been hailed as the savior of the UConn football program that hasn’t had any form of consistent success since Randy Edsell’s first tenure at the school which ended with a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.

In a long-form piece on the 60-year-old’s coaches’ comeback to college football, Mora described his life inside a sprawling stately styled building that sits atop a hill above UConn’s campus, calling the place “haunted” but assist that it’s occupied with “good ghosts.”

“I just warn everyone who stays that it’s haunted,” Mora said with a laugh, “but they’re good ghosts.”

As Pete Thamel points out in his article, Mora trying to breathe life into a supposed haunted house is quite apropos to what he’s trying to do in Storrs. The former NFL and UCLA head coach is trying to revive a Huskies program that went 1-11 in 2021 and has no current affiliation with any conference.

In Edsall’s second go around with the university, he managed to win only seven total games before resigning from the position in September.

While Mora seemed fine with his life after football once he was fired from UCLA in 2017, he cites “the itch” and passion he has for coaching as wanting to get back into the game.

“There was an itch that I had that I really felt like I needed this opportunity. It’s what I love to do, it’s what I’m passionate about. I love being able to affect these kids. I’m at the point in my life where it’s really, truly not about me.”

While no one is expecting UConn to turn things around in year one, Mora certainly seems up to the task.

“The challenge of going uphill and taking over a program like this,” Mora said. “It inspires me and breathes life into me.”

The Huskies’ first test will be against Mountain West Champs Utah State in Logan Saturday at 4 P.M EST.

[ESPN]

About Jasper Jones

A native east coaster via Connecticut, Jasper is a writer for The Comeback and Audacy Sports. He decided to head south for college, attending the University of Kentucky and graduating with a degree in broadcast journalism. Prior to joining The Comeback, Jones spent a year writing for FanSided's college football blog, Saturday Blitz, covering news surrounding the sport and recruiting. He spent the same amount of time doing some freelance work for the tabloid/sports outlet BlackSportsOnline. In his free time, Jones loves to cheer on his Kentucky Wildcats, collect sneakers, read a good book, and get in some gains at the gym. You can follow him on Twitter @jonesj2342.