Former UConn and Maryland head coach Randy Edsall was named as director of football research and special projects with the Detroit Lions. (Creative Commons)
It’s been a pretty eventful week for UConn. Warde Manuel’s departure leaves a significant hole in the athletic department that could take some time to fill. But the news is not totally bleak for UConn fans. A former coach landed a new job, a player received a call to the big leagues, and fans got to see a promising future Husky in action.
As UConn begins its search for a new Athletic Director, here are the some of the headlines surrounding UConn athletics this week:
Warde Manuel accepts athletic director position at Michigan
Warde Manuel confirmed what the media had been speculating for a while this week, accepting the open Athletic Director position at the University of Michigan. Manuel, a former defensive lineman for Michigan’s football team, oversaw six national championships in his four-year tenure at UConn. Michigan had been without a full-time athletic director since October 2014, though Jim Hackett had been serving as interim AD until his departure from Michigan on December 2.
Zach Brown debuts at Putnam Science Academy
Highly-touted UConn commit Zach Brown made his debut at Putnam Science Academy on Saturday, scoring 14 points on 7-of-11 shooting. Brown also had four rebounds and three blocks as PSA defeated Lee Academy. Brown just recently transferred to PSA from Miami Beach High to be closer to UConn and better prepare for his college career.
Randy Edsall lands with Lions
It did not take long for former UConn football head coach Randy Edsall to find work again. Edsall, who was let go by Maryland on Oct. 11, was hired Sunday by the Detroit Lions to be the new director of football research and special projects. Edsall was hired by new Lions General Manager Bob Quinn, who graduated from UConn in 2000 with a master’s degree in sports management. Quinn was a graduate assistant under Edsall in Edsall’s first year as head coach in Connecticut.
Former Husky gets spring training invite from Cubs
Former UConn baseball player John Andreoli has received a spring training invitation from the Chicago Cubs. Andreoli, who hit .340 in three years with the Huskies, was drafted by the Cubs in the 17th round of the 2011 MLB Draft. He hit .277 in 106 games with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs last season, stealing 33 bases.
Pete Harasyko is a staff writer for The Daily Campus. He can be reached via email at peter.harasyko@uconn.edu.