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COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Randy Edsall, who spent the last 12 years taking the University of Connecticut from FCS (formerly Division I-AA) status to five bowl games, including a BCS contest, was named Maryland's head football coach Sunday.

"I want to thank everyone who put in a great deal of work on what is an important search process for our university," said Kevin Anderson, director of athletics. "After an extensive and thorough search, we have found in Randy Edsall someone who will work passionately to develop our student-athletes and our football program. Randy will be a strong, willing and able ambassador not only for Maryland football but for our entire University and our state."

Edsall, who was introduced Monday during a news conference, guided the Huskies to a pair of BIG EAST Conference titles (2007, 2010) and postseason appearances in each of the last four seasons, including the 2011 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

The 2010 BIG EAST Coach of the Year led the Huskies to eight or more wins in each of the last four seasons as the Huskies successfully made the ascent from Division I-AA. In fact, Connecticut was 33-19 over the last four seasons, including a pair of bowl wins.

"Randy's accomplishments in taking a BCS football program to the next level in all areas, including competitively, academically, in recruiting and in fan support, are indisputable," said Anderson.

UConn is also the first program to go from FBS newcomer to BCS bowl participant in only seven years.

The Huskies also performed well in the classroom. In five of the last seven seasons, UConn was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) for its high graduation rate.

UConn was the top team in the NCAA's Graduation Success Rate (GSR) of both October 2008 and '09 among league schools. The Huskies latest GSR, released in October 2010, UConn was third in the BIG EAST and within four points of the second place team.

Prior to his stint in Storrs, Conn., Edsall spent one season (1998) as the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech and four years (1994-97) as a defensive backs coach with the Jacksonville Jaguars who went from expansion team to the AFC Championship game during his tenure.

"This is really a dream job for me," Edsall said. "I came to my first college game at Maryland when the Terps played Villanova back in the 1970s. I went to basketball camp here and grew up 70 miles from here. In the coaching profession, this is always a job I admired. I was hoping one day that I'd be able to be the head coach at the University of Maryland when the opportunity presented itself. That's why I took the job and I am honored and privileged to be the coach at the University of Maryland."

A native of nearby Glen Rock, Pa., Edsall is the 34th coach in Maryland history. He graduated from Syracuse in 1980 with a bachelor's degree in physical education. He also earned a master's in health and physical education in 1982.

A former Orangeman quarterback, Edsall began his coaching career as a graduate assistant in 1980 with Syracuse.

In all he spent 11 seasons at his alma mater in a variety of roles on both sides of the ball. He coached running backs for four seasons (1983-84, 86) and tight ends for one (1985) before moving to the defense.

Edsall coached the Orangeman defensive backs for four years (1991-03) as well as serving as the recruiting coordinator his final two years. During his tenure, the Orangemen went to five bowl games.

He went on to become the defensive backs coach at Boston College for three seasons (1992-93) before moving onto Georgia Tech.

The Edsall File

Personal

Full Name: Randy Douglas Edsall
Date of Birth: August 27, 1958
Hometown: Glen Rock, Pa.
Alma Mater: Syracuse, '80
Family: Wife, Eileen; Children, Alexi (20), Corey (18)
Yrs in Coaching (College): 27 (23)

Coaching Experience

Maryland
2011-: Head Coach

Connecticut
1999-2010: Head Coach

Georgia Tech
1998: Assistant Coach - Defensive Coordinator/DBs

Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL)
1994-97: Assistant Coach - Defensive Backs

Boston College
1991-93: Assistant Coach - Defensive Backs

Syracuse
1989-90: Assistant Coach - Recruiting Coordinator/DBs
1987-88: Assistant Coach - Defensive Backs
1986: Assistant Coach - Running Backs
1985: Assistant Coach - Tight Ends
1983-84: Assistant Coach - Running Backs
1980-82: Graduate Assistant

What They're Saying About Edsall...

"Maryland made a great choice in Randy Edsall. They not only have an excellent football coach but also have a man of high integrity and morality. He did one of the great coaching jobs in America at Connecticut. All you have to do is look at where they came from in the old Yankee Conference to the Fiesta Bowl."
- Ernie Accorsi, Former NY Giants general manager

"I have always thought very highly of Randy. He is a proven talent, a straight talker and of the highest character. He is a terrific football coach and Maryland has gotten itself a tremendous hire."
- Dick Jauron, Former defensive coordinator of the Jacksonville Jaguars and head coach of the Buffalo Bills

"He's almost a Maryland guy, up the river in Pennsylvania. I'm positive that he thinks Maryland is one of the best jobs in the country for him. He's back home, and I think Ralph has done a good job, so he's taking over a good program and he doesn't have to rebuild again. I think he just has to reload. There aren't very many jobs in the country that I think Randy would be interested in."
- Dick MacPherson, Former Syracuse head coach (as told to the Baltimore Sun, 1/2/11)

"I've been around Randy quite a bit as members of the AFCA board of directors. I think a lot of him. He cut his teeth coaching with guys like Dick MacPherson and Paul Pasqualoni at Syracuse so you know he got a great introduction into coaching and had tremendous mentors. Randy's a guy with great character and integrity who has done a tremendous job throughout his career. What he did at Connecticut was amazing, taking them from a I-AA program to a BCS Conference and eventually a BCS game in a short period of time. With his sound fundamentals, toughness and recruiting contacts on the East Coast I think he'll be a huge hit at Maryland."
- Mack Brown, Texas head coach

"I've known Randy Edsall since his early days in coaching at Syracuse. Randy is an outstanding person and as a coach what he has accomplished at Connecticut stands alone. He will be a great addition to our conference and will bring a hard-nosed style of football to Maryland."
- David Cutcliffe, Duke head coach

"First and foremost, Coach Edsall makes you a better man on and off the field. He teaches you to become responsible and cares about you away from football."
- Darius Butler, 2008 UConn captain and current member of the New England Patriots

"Coach Edsall pushes you to be your best. It's not all about football. He teaches you to be a better man, a good family person and how to adapt to different situations. He prepares you for life after football."
- Julius Williams, former Husky defensive lineman and former member of the Jacksonville Jaguars

"Coach Edsall is very committed to setting goals that you can reach, and then daring you not only to reach them as fast as you can, but challenging you to want to achieve more."
- Dan Orlovsky, 2004 UConn captain and current Houston Texans quarterback