College football hot seat: 10 head coaches feeling the heat in 2021
10. Randy Edsall (UConn)
Randy Edsall really needs to be No. 1 on this list. In fact, he should not even be on this list since every other program in the country probably would have already moved on from him except for UConn. Instead, Edsall remains in place while the university continues to pay him bizarre bonuses for his “achievements” under his contract.
Until further notice, he will continue to occupy the No. 10 spot on this list.
Edsall is a UConn legend for better or worse, having spent a decade with the Huskies culminating in a Big East title and appearance in the Fiesta Bowl in 2010. Following an unsuccessful tenure at Maryland, he came back in 2017 and has amassed a 6-30 record since then.
Related Story. UConn football: Commemorating 10 years since Big East title. light
His 2018 defense was the worst in college football history after giving up over 50 points per game — UMass broke that record in 2019.
Nonetheless, Edsall still gets rewarded as this handy graphic lays it out:
Connecticut and coach Randy Edsall got creative with incentives for his coaching contract. Coaches salary database: https://t.co/GagJGG3hrP pic.twitter.com/D05NnBVJJV
— USA TODAY Sports (@usatodaysports) October 3, 2018
Incentives are based on statistics such as who scores first, number of red-zone trips, and even punt and kick return yardage.
UConn cancelled their 2020 fall season by citing concerns over COVID-19, but the more likely reason is that they could not put together an adequate schedule as an independent.
However, this did not stop Edsall from his biggest achievement yet as head coach. Despite not playing a single snap, the New York Times still declared UConn as national champions.
Surely there is a bonus somewhere in Edsall’s contract for that.