Paul Pasqualoni has been fired as UConn football coach, and associate head coach and offensive line head coach George DeLeone has been relived of his duites, the school announced in a press release at about 10 a.m. Monday morning.
The Courant was the first to report the news through two sources.
“I am making this change in our football coaching staff now as we approach the conference season to see an improved performance from our football program,” UConn athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement. “I am disappointed in the record of our team thus far, but I am confident that our coaching staff and student-athletes will continue to work hard to improve and that will be reflected on the field of play as we start our American Athletic Conference season.”
The school is holding a press conference at 4 p.m., at which time it will name an interim coach.
Either offensive coordinator T.J. Weist, defensive coordinator Hank Hughes or tight ends coach Mike Foley will assume the role, according to a source.
According his employment contract, Pasqualoni will receive a $750,000 payment.
Pasqualoni compiled a 10-18 record at UConn since taking over for Randy Edsall following the Huskies’ trip to the Fiesta Bowl, the pinnacle for the program.
Since then, Pasqualoni led the Huskies to a pair of 5-7 seasons and in this must-win season, his third, the Huskies started 0-4, including a 33-18 loss to Division I-AA Towson.
UConn lost to former coach Edsall in a game against Maryland, then almost beat Michigan before losing 24-21. With renewed hope heading to Buffalo, the Huskies got blown out 41-12. UConn had beaten Buffalo in 12 of the 13 previous meetings.
The Huskies are ranked at the bottom in nearly every offensive category nationally, and their defensive prowess over the years has slipped as well.
By Desmond Conner, Hartford Courant