UConn finalzing deal to hire Toledo's Jason Candle

UConn is expected to hire Toledo head coach Jason Candle, sources tell On3. The two parties are working to finalize a deal that is expected to double his current salary. A team meeting is set for Saturday morning in Toledo.

Candle’s 11 NFL Draft picks at Toledo are tied for the most in the MAC during his tenure. With an 81–44 record in his 10 seasons with the Rockets, including two conference titles. Candle is set to succeed Jim Mora Jr., who left earlier this week for the Colorado State job.

Candle was also a factor in the Tulane head coaching search. The Ohio native has remained committed to Toledo over his tenure, but is now taking on a new challenge at UConn, which is an independent. UConn is one of two remaining FBS independents, along with Notre Dame.

He was promoted to head coach when Matt Campbell left Toledo for Iowa State. He’s made three MAC title appearances. He’s never posted a losing season, only finishing .500 once. The Rockets finished the 2025 regular season 8-4, missing a MAC title game berth because of a tiebreaker. Candle and the Rockets stunned Mississippi State 41-17 in Starkville in 2024.

He is the program’s all-time wins leader. Toledo’s 79 wins since 2016 are the most of any school in the MAC.

UConn is coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons. The Huskies’ last nine-win season came in 2007. The program has also gone to three bowls in four years. UConn had been to only one bowl game in the previous 11 years.