10:40 a.m. ET: The deal is done, the university has announced on social media.

10:00 a.m. ET: UConn is in negotiations with Toledo's Jason Candle to make him the next football coach at the university, multiple outlets reported Saturday morning.

If hired, he would replace Jim Mora, who accepted the head coaching job at Colorado State last week.

ESPN's Pete Thamel said Candle is expected to sign a six-year deal. Per reports, an annoucement could come Saturday.

Candle has been the head coach of Toledo since 2016 and has a record of 81-44, which includes a win in the 2015 Boca Raton Bowl. He took over at Toledo after the departure of Matt Campbell – hired Friday to coach Penn State – for Iowa State.

Toledo finished 8-4 (6-2 Mid-American Conference) in the 2025 season and is awaiting to learn its bowl destination.

Candle is the winningest coach in Toledo history, having won two MAC championships. He is also a two-time MAC coach of the year.

UConn had been reportedly interested in longtime Penn State assistant Terry Smith for the job, but he ultimately chose to stay with the Nittany Lions and work for Campbell in State College.

The Jason Candle file

Candle, 46, is a native of Ohio who never has held a coaching job outside the state.

He was a wide receiver at Division III powerhouse Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio, and started his coaching career there in 2003, spending four seasons as receivers coach and two as offensive coordinator. He departed in 2009 for an assistant coach position with Toledo and worked his way to assistant head coach/offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach in 2014.

The Toledo job has proved to be a stepping stone for top coaches.

Nick Saban, who has won seven national championships, got his start at Toledo. He was 9-2 as the head coach in 1990 before moving on to Michigan State.

About the Huskies

Under Mora, the Huskies went 9-3 this regular season, a special accomplishment considering that they play an independent schedule and have no football conference affiliation.

The Huskies are also awaiting a bowl game announcement. That will likely come this weekend after the conclusion of various conference title games around the country.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

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