CSU makes huge hire, adds former NFL coach to lead Rams

Jim Mora will be hired by the CSU Rams, according to multiple outlets late Tuesday night

Nov 25, 2025, 11:52 PM

Watch: A Backup QB Battle, Bo Nix And The Broncos Get Used To Davis Webb, And Could Taysom Hill Be Denver-Bound - Three Big Things From Broncos Training Camp | 14 mins

The former head coach of the Pac-12 South champions will lead the Colorado State Rams when they join the conference next fall. Jim Mora will be hired by CSU, according to multiple outlets late Tuesday night, but was first reported by ESPN. The deal is expected to come together soon, ESPN wrote.

Mora, who was once the NFC Coach of the Year for leading the Atlanta Falcons to the conference title game behind Michael Vick’s star. But after Vick’s legal issues, the Falcons came crashing down and Mora landed at UCLA a few years later, leading the Bruins for six years, all of which they were ranked at some point. Like Atlanta, Mora was fired from UCLA.

In 2022, Mora took over a rough UConn program and has now taken them back-to-back to nine-win seasons after not hitting that benchmark since 2007. Mora has now led Huskies to three bowls in his four years in Storrs, and the school had only made one bowl trip in the previous 11 years.

Now 64, Mora will be CSU’s fourth coach since 2019, as the school has gone through Mike Bobo, Steve Addazio and Jay Norvell. The Rams fired Norvell last month. They’re in a stretch of just one bowl game since 2017.

New athletic director John Weber has talked a lot of game about the Rams’ potential to be one of the best Group of 5 schools, based on their finances and facilities

For Mora, he returns home in a way. The son of a famous coach, his father was the Colorado Buffaloes’ defensive ends, outside linebackers and defensive backs coach under Eddie Crowder from 1968 to 1973. The son has been on the West Coast most of his life.

The news of the hire was met with joy by fans who follow the Rams and were still awake when the news broke.

Jim Mora will take the Rams to greatness.

Guarantee. Go ahead. Book mark it.

I am beyond thrilled.

— Brady Hull (@Hullshow) November 26, 2025

Jim Mora is a HUGE get for the Rams! Lets hope he can break the long down trend for this program pic.twitter.com/8lvwcTidbY

— CSU Ramaniac (@CSU_BoldNewEra) November 26, 2025