Just when we thought the coaching carousel was closed, Connecticut went and opened it up on Monday by suddenly firing head coach Bob Diaco after three seasons. Diaco was clearly on the hot seat with an 11-26 record after those three seasons, but UConn severing ties this late in the seasons after a 3-9 campaign this year certainly shocked a lot of people.
The Huskies are now looking for a new head coach, and it looks like one of the SEC's youngest assistants could be a potential candidate. FOX Sports' Bruce Feldman mentioned Auburn offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee, 33, for the job, as Feldman lists some connections at UConn that could force Lashlee in that direction.
Coach who get be an intriguing option for #UConn: #Auburn OC Rhett Lashlee. Bright offensive guy with some ties to the AD there.
— Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 27, 2016
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That connection is in the former of UConn athletic director David Benedict, who worked in the Auburn athletic department for two years before taking the job up north.
Benedict has also worked at Minnesota and Arizona State before, but with Lashlee being a hot name for a potential job, it would make sense for UConn to have the young offensive coordinator as a top target.
Lashlee has really emerged this season with Auburn, as he took over the play-calling duties from head coach Gus Malzahn after the first four games of the 2016 season. After the takeover, Auburn's offense really started to blossom until injuries to starters Sean White and Kamryn Pettway really started to derail the Tigers at the end of the season.
As of now, Lashlee and Auburn are set to take on Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl on Monday, Jan. 2.
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