AP source: UConn, Whipple in final negotiations

HARTFORD, Conn. – Former Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple is in the final stages of negotiations to become Connecticut's next head coach, according to a UConn athletic department official.

The official said an announcement would not come before Thursday.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity Tuesday because the person was not authorized to release the information.

The 53-year-old Whipple was let go by Miami after head coach Randy Shannon was fired at the end of the season. Whipple also coached Massachusetts to the 1998 Division I-AA championship.

Whipple would replace Randy Edsall, who took the head coaching job at Maryland after leading UConn to an 8-5 season and a berth in the Fiesta Bowl, where the Huskies lost to Oklahoma 48-20.

UConn spokesman Mike Enright would not confirm the negotiations.

"We do not comment on the searches at UConn or any other school until the process is complete," he said.

Whipple's resume also includes head coaching jobs at New Haven and Brown. He served as an assistant coach with the Philadelphia Eagles before being hired by Shannon in 2009. From 2004-06, he was the quarterbacks coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, where he helped develop Ben Roethlisberger.

Since becoming a full Division I-A team in 2002, Connecticut is 65-46.