CT Court Makes Ruling In UConn Football Nepotism Case

STORRS, CT — A Connecticut Superior Court on Thursday ruled in favor of University of Connecticut head football coach Randy Edsall and the University in their appeal of a recent Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board decision regarding the coach’s employment and that of his son, UConn officials said.

Edsall was appealing a ruling by the state Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board that the school violated Connecticut’s ban on nepotism by hiring Corey Edsall in 2017 as the school’s tight ends coach.

Corey Edsall has been allowed to keep his job during the appeal process.

Randy Edsall, Corey Edsall/UConn Athletics

The ruling stated, “Randy Edsall and the University have followed the direction of the board in (the) Advisory Opinion and even gone beyond what would literally be required by developing the detailed management plan for Corey Edsall … The University has gone further than the statute requires by placing Corey Edsall under the day-to-day supervision of the offensive coordinator of the football team.”

In Advisory Opinion No. 2017-2, (Application of the Code of Ethics Concerning Use of Office for a Family Member), the Citizen’s Ethics Advisory Board concluded that "Randy Edsall was a “state employee” as of December 28, 2016, the date he and UConn executed a binding and enforceable employment contract, and thathis subsequent negotiations with UConn concerning his son’s salary (among other things) were therefore impermissible under General Statutes § 1-84 (c); and (2) that § 1-84 (c) prohibits Randy Edsall’s son from being employed by UConn as one of his father’s assistant football coaches."

The court called the board's ruling "erroneous," citing safeguards employed by UConn.

Said UConn President Susan Herbst on the decision, “The university appealed the board’s ruling because we were confident that UConn carefully followed state statute and well-established management practices in instances such as this. We are gratified that the judge unambiguously agreed. We look forward to moving on.”

Photo Credit: Chris Dehnel

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