Re: We have a football team too... Guru's UConn Huskies (NCAA 14)
UConn head coach Steve Belichick accepts same position with NFL’s New England Patriots
Over and out. After a wildly successful three season run at UConn, Steve Belichick is on to bigger and better pastures, as expected after not renewing his contract at any point over the last year. After his father Bill Belichick served as a one-year stopgap as the head coach of the New England Patriots after leaving the franchise some five years earlier, Bill stepped down, a planned move, as it turned out, to pave the way for his son. The Patriots announced that Stephen inked a four-year, $36 million contract and will leave UConn after winning his second national championship last week. The move was first hinted at by a tweet from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport in December, but Belichick showed no indication that he was leaving before completing the season.
“I’m thankful for Bobby [Valentine, UConn A.D.] for giving me a chance and for allowing us to have as much success as we have. I’m grateful for the Kraft family as well for allowing me to take this position. I can’t wait to get to work,” commented the younger Belichick. He leaves UConn with a 37-6 total record in three years, with the two national titles and two ACC Championships.
Steve, a Rutgers grad, was hired by UConn as a first time head coach after serving for nearly a decade as the New England Patriots’ safeties coach. A high-risk, high-reward move at the time, Valentine hired Belichick due to his name, previous professional experience, youth and knowledge of the region, all of which proved to be valuable traits in his flawless leadership of the program. Belichick turned several of his and former Coach Diaco’s recruits into professional prospects through his leadership; UConn could be in line to send almost a dozen prospects to the NFL this year, a program record.
Belichick’s success came, in part, from superb preparation and knowing when to defer to his assistants. This was most noteworthy when offensive coordinator Dan Orlovsky took the offensive coordinator job this year, and the former UConn quarterback molded UConn’s young offense into one of the best in the sport’s history. Belichick was also a stout recruiter, turning New Jersey into a major pipeline while also plucking several prospects from New England, expanding further south into ACC territory and UConn’s former reach into Big 12 territory. There were also no major discipline or academic issues in Belichick’s tenure, unlike the many exploits of the Diaco era.
“He was exactly the head coach I wanted to hire to continue our program’s ascent to the next level,” commented Valentine. “Of course we’re sad to see him go, but we all love him for all he’s done for us, and we know that he’ll have even more success in the NFL.”
Valentine did not give specifics about a replacement, but indicated he has something lined up. The obvious assumption here is that offensive coordinator Dan Orlovsky has been contacted about the opening and will accept the offer to coach his alma mater soon.
Orlovsky is the heavy favorite to replace Belichick, but if he declines the job or elects to go somewhere else, other possible candidates are less obvious. Rumors have floated around USC head coach Quinn Shea for years about a return to New England as a Massachusetts native, and he could be in play. Boise State head coach Barry Odom might be another option, UConn’s popular former defensive coordinator. However, he may be the favorite for his alma mater Missouri’s soon-to-be open head coaching job. UConn alum Sam Freday, current UNLV head coach, was believed to be a contender for the UConn head coaching job in 2021 and might be considered again for his “dream job.” The only major factor working against Freday is his subpar record in four years as UNLV’s head coach.
Valentine said he hopes to have a new head coach within the next week.
After two years serving as UConn’s defensive headman, Don Pellum, 62, announced his retirement from coaching not long after the Belichick announcement. “It’s time for me to move back to the west coast to spend some time with my family and try something new,” said Pellum with a smile. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with these guys at UConn, and for the chance to go out on top.”
Pellum came to UConn in early 2022 after a seven-year stint as head coach at Colorado, accumulating a 44-44 record. Along with simply coming to the school, Pellum was able to convince young outside linebacker Marlon Bush Jr., from Ohio, to move closer to home and follow him to UConn. Bush became a starter this year and had a productive first year; he has two years of eligibility left. Before Colorado, Pellum was the co-defensive coordinator of Oregon’s 2014 national title run and spent 20 years with the school before that, working at a variety of positions.
The UConn defense had some growing pains in 2023 after replacing several starters, but they gelled late in the year and were lauded during the playoff run for stellar play. They held the second and third best teams in the nation to a combined 40 points over two games, led by junior end and national sacks leader Kiel Hughes and sophomore linebacker Marshawn Dortch. Pellum and his experience working with all defensive position groups was also critical in recruiting young stars Payton Ash and Demetris Sands, both freshman All-Americans this year. UConn is set to lose only two defensive contributors to graduation, but might lose more to transfers, position changes or the NFL. This means that UConn could once again boast a young defense next year, so the new defensive coordinator might be able to mold the look of the unit as he desires.
Potential replacements for Pellum are unclear at this time, though if Orlovsky becomes the head coach, it is most likely that a former UConn player could step in as a first-time coordinator.
“WE’RE ON TO THE NFL”
UConn head coach Steve Belichick accepts same position with NFL’s New England Patriots
Over and out. After a wildly successful three season run at UConn, Steve Belichick is on to bigger and better pastures, as expected after not renewing his contract at any point over the last year. After his father Bill Belichick served as a one-year stopgap as the head coach of the New England Patriots after leaving the franchise some five years earlier, Bill stepped down, a planned move, as it turned out, to pave the way for his son. The Patriots announced that Stephen inked a four-year, $36 million contract and will leave UConn after winning his second national championship last week. The move was first hinted at by a tweet from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport in December, but Belichick showed no indication that he was leaving before completing the season.
“I’m thankful for Bobby [Valentine, UConn A.D.] for giving me a chance and for allowing us to have as much success as we have. I’m grateful for the Kraft family as well for allowing me to take this position. I can’t wait to get to work,” commented the younger Belichick. He leaves UConn with a 37-6 total record in three years, with the two national titles and two ACC Championships.
Steve, a Rutgers grad, was hired by UConn as a first time head coach after serving for nearly a decade as the New England Patriots’ safeties coach. A high-risk, high-reward move at the time, Valentine hired Belichick due to his name, previous professional experience, youth and knowledge of the region, all of which proved to be valuable traits in his flawless leadership of the program. Belichick turned several of his and former Coach Diaco’s recruits into professional prospects through his leadership; UConn could be in line to send almost a dozen prospects to the NFL this year, a program record.
Belichick’s success came, in part, from superb preparation and knowing when to defer to his assistants. This was most noteworthy when offensive coordinator Dan Orlovsky took the offensive coordinator job this year, and the former UConn quarterback molded UConn’s young offense into one of the best in the sport’s history. Belichick was also a stout recruiter, turning New Jersey into a major pipeline while also plucking several prospects from New England, expanding further south into ACC territory and UConn’s former reach into Big 12 territory. There were also no major discipline or academic issues in Belichick’s tenure, unlike the many exploits of the Diaco era.
“He was exactly the head coach I wanted to hire to continue our program’s ascent to the next level,” commented Valentine. “Of course we’re sad to see him go, but we all love him for all he’s done for us, and we know that he’ll have even more success in the NFL.”
Replacements?
Valentine did not give specifics about a replacement, but indicated he has something lined up. The obvious assumption here is that offensive coordinator Dan Orlovsky has been contacted about the opening and will accept the offer to coach his alma mater soon.
Orlovsky is the heavy favorite to replace Belichick, but if he declines the job or elects to go somewhere else, other possible candidates are less obvious. Rumors have floated around USC head coach Quinn Shea for years about a return to New England as a Massachusetts native, and he could be in play. Boise State head coach Barry Odom might be another option, UConn’s popular former defensive coordinator. However, he may be the favorite for his alma mater Missouri’s soon-to-be open head coaching job. UConn alum Sam Freday, current UNLV head coach, was believed to be a contender for the UConn head coaching job in 2021 and might be considered again for his “dream job.” The only major factor working against Freday is his subpar record in four years as UNLV’s head coach.
Valentine said he hopes to have a new head coach within the next week.
Defensive Coordinator Don Pellum announces retirement
After two years serving as UConn’s defensive headman, Don Pellum, 62, announced his retirement from coaching not long after the Belichick announcement. “It’s time for me to move back to the west coast to spend some time with my family and try something new,” said Pellum with a smile. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with these guys at UConn, and for the chance to go out on top.”
Pellum came to UConn in early 2022 after a seven-year stint as head coach at Colorado, accumulating a 44-44 record. Along with simply coming to the school, Pellum was able to convince young outside linebacker Marlon Bush Jr., from Ohio, to move closer to home and follow him to UConn. Bush became a starter this year and had a productive first year; he has two years of eligibility left. Before Colorado, Pellum was the co-defensive coordinator of Oregon’s 2014 national title run and spent 20 years with the school before that, working at a variety of positions.
The UConn defense had some growing pains in 2023 after replacing several starters, but they gelled late in the year and were lauded during the playoff run for stellar play. They held the second and third best teams in the nation to a combined 40 points over two games, led by junior end and national sacks leader Kiel Hughes and sophomore linebacker Marshawn Dortch. Pellum and his experience working with all defensive position groups was also critical in recruiting young stars Payton Ash and Demetris Sands, both freshman All-Americans this year. UConn is set to lose only two defensive contributors to graduation, but might lose more to transfers, position changes or the NFL. This means that UConn could once again boast a young defense next year, so the new defensive coordinator might be able to mold the look of the unit as he desires.
Potential replacements for Pellum are unclear at this time, though if Orlovsky becomes the head coach, it is most likely that a former UConn player could step in as a first-time coordinator.
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