Jason Candle is wasting no time reshaping UConn football in his image. With the transfer portal about to swing open, the newly hired head coach is moving quickly to build out his staff - and his latest move brings a proven defensive mind to Storrs. According to reports, Candle is set to hire Ryan Manalac as UConn’s next defensive coordinator.
Manalac brings five years of ACC experience to the table, having coached linebackers at Pitt, where he built a reputation for developing high-motor, fundamentally sound defenders. His units were consistently tough, disciplined, and productive - traits UConn will be eager to lean on as it tries to reestablish itself in the national conversation.
This hire is part of a broader, aggressive staff overhaul by Candle, the former Toledo head coach. Over the past week, UConn has added several key assistants: Nunzio Campanile from Syracuse as offensive coordinator, John Morookian as offensive line coach, Kerry Dixon II to handle wide receivers, and Pat Cashmore to oversee special teams. It’s clear Candle is building a staff with a blend of experience, recruiting chops, and schematic versatility - and Manalac fits right into that mold.
Manalac isn’t walking into unfamiliar territory, either. He’s no stranger to UConn - he faced the Huskies twice during his playing days at Cincinnati, back when both programs were battling it out in the old Big East.
In 2008, he was the leading tackler on a Bearcats team that won the conference title. Though he didn’t hear his name called in the 2009 NFL Draft, he did make a brief appearance with the Buffalo Bills before transitioning into coaching.
His coaching roots run deep in the Midwest, much like Candle’s. An Ohio native, Manalac got his start at Valparaiso before moving up the ladder with defensive coordinator roles at Ohio Wesleyan and Bucknell. That steady climb eventually led him to Pitt, where he helped shape one of the most productive linebacker groups in the ACC.
And the results speak for themselves. Under Manalac’s guidance, Pitt linebackers Ryan Louis and Rasheem Biles both cracked the top 15 in the ACC for total tackles for loss yardage.
Louis, in particular, had a breakout year - earning First-Team All-American honors from The Sporting News and drawing a second-round draft grade from ESPN’s Mel Kiper. That kind of talent development is exactly what UConn needs as it looks to build a defense that can compete at the next level.
With Manalac now expected to take over the Huskies’ defense, Candle continues to check key boxes in his first offseason at the helm. The staff he’s assembling is experienced, battle-tested, and clearly aligned with his vision. UConn fans have been waiting for a reset - and with moves like this, it’s clear that reset is well underway.