Quick reaction to Colorado State football’s new head coach, Jim Mora
Reporter Kevin Lytle shares his initial thoughts on Jim Mora as CSU’s new football coach.
The Colorado State football program has found its next head coach.
Jim Mora will be the newest coach of the Rams.
The UConn coach is leaving to join the Rams, with UConn athletic director releasing a statement Nov. 26 saying Mora has informed UConn he is taking the CSU job.
CSU has not yet announced the hire.
CSU had an extended search to find the next leader after firing Jay Norvell on Oct. 19 after the seventh game of the 2025 season. Tyson Summers has been CSU’s interim coach for the last four games and, as of the morning of Nov. 26, is expected to remain in that role for the Rams’ fifth and final game of the season Nov. 28.
Who is the new Colorado State football coach?
The 64-year-old Mora has been the UConn coach since 2022 but has a long history in college football and the NFL. He’s also been the head coach at UCLA and with the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.
He had six seasons at UCLA, where he won eight or more games in four of those six years.
Why did Colorado State hire Jim Mora?
CSU athletic director John Weber previously said he would like a coach with previous head coaching experience, although it wasn’t required. Mora checks a lot of boxes.
He’s worked in the western region in a variety of roles. He’s worked at a lot of different stops, pro and college, and has current experience navigating the college sports world.
Mora spent time as a child growing up in Colorado when his dad, Jim Mora Sr., was an assistant coach at Colorado from 1968–1973. Mora has coached in San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and Los Angeles, which should mean deep ties to western recruiting possibilities.
What is Jim Mora’s record?
Mora went 27-23 in four seasons at UConn and coming off back-to-back nine-win seasons at a school that hadn’t reached nine wins since 2007. Mora led UConn to three bowl seasons in his four years there; the school had been to only one bowl game in the previous 11 years.
Mora went 46-30 at UCLA from 2012-17. He was 31-33 in four seasons as an NFL head coach.
Jim Mora’s salary, buyout
Mora is making just over $2 million as the UConn coach ($2,169,00, according to the USA Today coach salary database). Mora (or CSU) will owe UConn $1.5 million as a buyout to leave CSU, according to the CT Insider.
Jay Norvell’s salary at CSU in 2025 was $1.9 million.
Follow sports reporter Kevin Lytle on X and Instagram @Kevin_Lytle.
This story was updated to add more information, a gallery and a video.
