Jason Candle isn’t wasting any time putting his stamp on UConn football.
Fresh off replacing Jim Mora as the Huskies’ head coach, Candle is quickly assembling a 2026 staff that reflects his vision - and his roots. After already locking in Nunzio Campanile as offensive coordinator and Ryan Manalac to run the defense, Candle is now set to bring two more familiar faces to Storrs: Marquel Blackwell and Pat Cashmore, both of whom worked under him during his time at Toledo.
Let’s break down what each brings to the table - and why their connections to Candle matter.
Marquel Blackwell: Passing Game Coordinator / Quarterbacks Coach
Blackwell is one of those guys who’s been around the game long enough to understand it from every angle - and it all started under center. A former standout quarterback at South Florida, he racked up 7,488 passing yards and 51 touchdowns over three seasons from 2000 to 2002. He added over 1,100 yards and 17 scores on the ground, showing off a dual-threat skill set that was ahead of its time.
As a coach, Blackwell has bounced around some of the biggest programs in the country. Most recently, he served as the running backs coach at South Carolina before being let go earlier this month. Prior to that, he held similar roles at Texas A&M, Ole Miss, Houston, and West Virginia.
But it’s his history with Candle that makes this hire particularly interesting. Blackwell coached running backs at Toledo from 2016 to 2017 - the same stretch when the Rockets went 20-7 and featured future NFL running back Kareem Hunt. That kind of success, especially with a dynamic offense, is exactly what Candle is hoping to replicate at UConn.
Now, Blackwell will shift his focus to the passing game and quarterbacks - a transition that makes sense, given his background as a player and his experience developing talent at multiple Power Five programs.
Pat Cashmore: Special Teams Coordinator
Special teams may not always grab headlines, but they win games - and Pat Cashmore knows that as well as anyone. A former player at Drake University, he helped lead the Bulldogs to a Pioneer League title in 2011. Since then, he’s built a coaching résumé that includes stops at Midland University, Oklahoma State, Pittsburgh State, South Dakota State, and most recently, Washington State, where he served as the Cougars’ special teams coordinator.
Cashmore also crossed paths with Candle at Toledo in 2016-17, working in a quality control role on special teams. That familiarity, along with his steady climb through the coaching ranks, makes him a logical fit to oversee a unit that often makes the difference in tight games - especially for a program like UConn that’s looking to gain every edge it can.
What’s Next for UConn Football?
Candle’s staff is starting to take shape, but the work is far from over. With the transfer portal opening this week, roster movement is expected - both incoming and outgoing. Coaching changes almost always bring a wave of player decisions, and the Huskies will be no exception.
There’s also the potential for changes to the 2026 schedule, thanks to a new policy being rolled out by the ACC. That’s something to keep an eye on in the coming weeks as UConn navigates its independent status and tries to build a schedule that sets the team up for success.
The Huskies are coming off a 9-4 season that ended with a loss to Army in the Fenway Bowl - a tough way to close out the year, but also a sign that the program is on solid footing. Candle and his new staff will look to build on that momentum heading into 2026.
Around UConn Athletics
It’s not just the football program making noise in Storrs.
The UConn men’s basketball team is off to an 11-1 start and will resume Big East play on Wednesday night against Xavier. The Huskies are 2-0 in conference play after wins over Butler and DePaul.
Tip-off in Cincinnati is set for 5 p.m. ET on New Year’s Eve.
Meanwhile, the UConn women’s team continues to dominate the Big East, extending their conference win streak to 51 games with a blowout victory over Butler on Sunday.
Plenty of excitement across the board in Storrs - and with Candle continuing to shape his football staff, the Huskies are setting themselves up for a pivotal 2026 campaign.