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UConn welcomes Randy Edsall back as head football coach

STORRS – The University of Connecticut officially welcomed Randy Edsall back as the new head football coach. Edsall will coach the UConn football team aga...

STORRS - The University of Connecticut officially welcomed Randy Edsall back as the new head football coach.

Edsall will coach the UConn football team again, after a prior 1999-2010 stint in the job.

"Thank you for the opportunity to be able to come back and finish something that I started many years ago," he said Friday.

Edsall left Storrs after a loss in a bowl game on New Year's Day 2011 and went to coach in Maryland. He compiled a 22-24 record while leading the Terripans before being fired midway through his fifth season there.

The move comes just days after Bob Diaco was fired following a 3-9 season that was marred by poor offensive play and inconsistent performances on both sides of the ball. Diaco went 11-26 in his three-year tenure with the Huskies and failed to improve upon last season’s 6-7 mark that included an appearance in the St. Petersburg Bowl against Marshall.

"Now, it's a matter of going out and recruiting, and developing, you know, players, and that's what we're going to have to do," Edsall said about how he's going to approach coming back. During his last tenure Edsall oversaw the erection of Rentschler field, and said now that the infrastructure is there it's time to focus on the team.

In the announcement Friday, Edsall apologized to Husky Nation for how he left six years ago, which was welcomed by many.

He also spoke about how much UConn as a school means to him.

"From the relationships to the players to the fans. And, you know driving in here today, I said to my wife, I said, 'Wow, you know, when you come here, this place is filled. The victories we've had here, the friendships we've had here, everything else.' And you know, but it had to be the right people. David Benedict, I like him, to me he's top notch. President Herbst...To me, this is a special place to me."

Edsall signed a five-year deal worth $1 million per year, plus incentives.

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