Jim Mora named Colorado State Football Coach

FORT COLLINS – Winner of a combined 105 NFL and college football games, Jim Mora has been named the 25th head football coach at Colorado State, Director of Athletics John Weber announced today. November 26, 2025. Mora comes to Fort Collins after earning bowl eligibility for the University of Connecticut Huskies three of his four seasons (2022-25) as head coach.

"Our goal from the very start was to execute a comprehensive search to find the next leader of the Colorado State football program," Weber said. "We did that, and it was extremely energizing to have such significant interest from so many accomplished coaches. From our very first conversation, Coach Mora's desire to serve student-athletes, his comprehensive experience, and passion to win was evident. I could not be more excited to welcome Jim and his wife Kathy to CSU and Fort Collins."

Mora will be publicly introduced on Monday, December 1 at 3:00 p.m. in the Stadium Club (Fourth floor) at Canvas Stadium. Colorado State fans are encouraged to attend.

"I would like to thank President Amy Parsons, Director of Athletics John Weber, and all those involved for providing Kathy and me this very special opportunity," Mora said. "I am truly humbled to join CSU as we transition to the Pac-12 Conference. I am excited to meet the team and look forward to connecting with the former players. I can't wait for our family to become part of the Northern Colorado community."

Mora brings 35 years of coaching experience in the NFL and college to Fort Collins, with stops at UConn (2022-25), UCLA (2012-17), the Seattle Seahawks (2009) and Atlanta Falcons (2004-06).

At Connecticut, Mora achieved an overall record of 27-23, earning bowl eligibility in three of his four seasons and leading the Huskies to a 2-1 bowl record during his tenure. Mora led the Huskies to their first winning season since 2010 in 2022. They ranked 32nd in the Nation for rushing in 2022, and UConn beat AP No. 19 Liberty. Mora became the first UConn coach since 2015 to become bowl eligible.

Following the 2023 season, the Huskies saw the program's first two-time All-American during the FBS era in offensive guard Christian Haynes, who garnered AP and The Sporting News All-America honors for the second consecutive season. Haynes also became the first NFL Draft pick under Mora at UConn when he was selected in the third round by the Seattle Seahawks.

In 2024, Mora led the Huskies to a 9-4 record, capped with a win in the Wasabi Fenway Bowl over North Carolina. The program achieved its first nine-win season in more than a decade in 2024. Following the 2024 season, Mora was named The Gridiron Club of Greater Boston Head Coach of the Year.

Mora continued to elevate the program in 2025, securing the program's first back-to-back bowl appearances in the FBS era, recording the program's first back-to-back nine-win seasons, going a perfect 6-0 at home, and seeing attendance at games increase to an average of more than 30,000 after being at just 12,000 per game when he took the helm in Storrs.

Mora's era at UConn concluded with him going 20-7 over their final 27 games, including 12-1 at home. The 2025 Huskies ranked in the top 30 in passing yards (301.1, sixth), total offense (460.1, 18^th), sacks (3.00, ninth) and turnover margin (1.17, fourth) He leaves Storrs with four players in contention for major awards in 2025 in Joe Fagnano (Davey O'Brien), Skyler Bell (Biletnikoff), Bryun Parham (Walter Camp) and Chris Freeman (Lou Groza).

His collegiate coaching career started at UCLA in 2012, lasting six seasons where he accumulated a 46-30 overall record and a 29-24 mark in Pac-12 play. Mora led the Bruins to the 2012 Pac-12 South championship and won the 2013 Sun Bowl and the 2014 Alamo Bowl. The Bruins were ranked as high as No. 7 nationally during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. UCLA had top 20 recruiting classes in each season under Mora resulting in 30 Bruins being selected in the NFL Draft, including at least one first round NFL draft pick in every year except one. The 30 NFL Draft selections were the most of any Pac-12 program during that time.

Mora took over for Mike Holmgren as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks in 2009. He had served as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach for Seattle in the 2007 and 2008 campaigns. The Seahawks went 10-6 and finished first in the NFC West in 2007 season and won the wild card game in the playoffs.

In his initial season as the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons in 2004, Mora directed the team to an 11-5 record, becoming just the eighth rookie head coach in NFL history to win 11 games and the 11^th to win a division title. The Falcons captured the NFC South title and earned an appearance in the NFC Championship Game for only the second time in franchise history. Mora was selected as the NFC Coach of the Year.

A 1983 graduate of the University of Washington, Mora was a defensive back for the Washington Huskies from 1980 to 1983. He was part of two Rose Bowl teams, including a Rose Bowl win in 1982 (Iowa). He began his coaching career serving as a graduate assistant for the Washington Huskies in 1984 and helped them earn an invitation to the 1985 Orange Bowl (win over Oklahoma). In his five seasons there, Washington compiled a 48-12 overall record.

Mora and his wife Kathy have six children.

The Mora File
Hometown: Los Angelos, CA
Alma Mater: University of Washington
Coaching History
2022-2025 – Head Coach (UConn)
2021-2017 – Head Coach (UCLA)
2009 – Head Coach (Seattle Seahawks)
2007-08 - Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Backs (Seattle Seahawks)
2004-06 – Head Coach (Atlanta Falcons)
1999-03 – Defensive Coordinator (San Francisco 49ers)
1997-98 – Defensive Backs (San Francisco 49ers)
1992-96 – Defensive Backs (New Orleans Saints)
1989-91 – Defensive Backs (San Diego Chargers)
1986-88 – Assistant Defensive Backs (San Diego Chargers)
1985 – Quality Control (San Diego Chargers)
1984 - Graduate Assistant (Washington)

NFL Pro Bowlers Coached: 17 - Julian Peterson, LB-Seattle and San Francisco; Marcus Trufant, DB-Seattle; Allen Rossum, DB-Atlanta; Patrick Kerney, DL-Atlanta; Roderick Coleman, DL-Atlanta; Keith Brooking, LB-Atlanta; DeAngelo Hall, DB-Atlanta; Michael Vick, QB-Atlanta; Alge Crumpler, TE-Atlanta; Warrick Dunn, RB-Atlanta; Bryant Young, DL-San Francisco; Lance Schulters, DB-San Francisco; Merton Hanks, DB-San Francisco; Eric Allen, DB-New Orleans; Tyrone Hughes, DB-New Orleans; Gill Byrd, DB-San Diego, Anthony Barr, LB-Minnesota

NFL Draft Picks Coached: 49 - Datone Jones, Johnathan Franklin, Jeff Locke, Jeff Baca, Anthony Barr, Xavier Su'a-Filo, Cassius Marsh, Shaq Evans, Jordan Zumwalt, Eric Kendricks, Owamagbe Odighizuwa, Brett Hundley, Kenny Clark, Myles Jack, Caleb Benenoch, Paul Perkins, Jordan Payton, Aaron Wallace Jr., Thomas Duarte, Devin Fuller, Takkarist McKinley, Fabian Moreau, Eddie Vanderdoes, Jayon Brown, Conor McDermott, Akeem Ayers, Rahim Moore, David Carter, Brian Price, Alterraun Verner, Terrence Austin, Bruce Davis, Matt Slater, Christopher Horton, Justin Medlock, Marcedes Lewis, Maurice Jones-Drew, Jarrad Page, Manuel White, Ben Emanuel, Tab Perry, Craig Bragg, Matt Ware, Brandon Chillar, Dave Ball, Rodney Leisle, Mike Seidman, Christian Haynes, Chase Lundt

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Recent Results