FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — Jim Mora built UConn into a winning program. Now he will try to do the same at Colorado State.

Colorado State announced Wednesday that it had hired Mora, who has led UConn to nine wins each of the last two seasons. Now the former Seattle Seahawks and UCLA coach is heading west again to help Colorado State adjust to its move to the Pac-12 next year.

“I am truly humbled to join CSU as we transition to the Pac-12 Conference," Mora said in a statement released by the university. "I am excited to meet the team and look forward to connecting with the former players. I can’t wait for our family to become part of the northern Colorado community.”

Colorado State has scheduled an introductory news conference for Monday.

“Our goal from the very start was to execute a comprehensive search to find the next leader of the Colorado State football program,” Colorado State athletic director John Weber said in a statement. “We did that, and it was extremely energizing to have such significant interest from so many accomplished coaches. From our very first conversation, Coach Mora’s desire to serve student-athletes, his comprehensive experience, and passion to win was evident.”

The 64-year-old Mora, who spent four seasons as an NFL head coach with the Atlanta Falcons and Seahawks, produced a 27-23 record in four years at UConn. The Huskies are 9-3 this season, and each of their three losses went to overtime.

“Coach Mora brought energy and a winning culture back to UConn football and put our program back on the national stage,” UConn athletic director David Benedict said. “We thank Jim for his dedication to our student-athletes and wish him, his wife Kathy and his family the best at Colorado State.”

Benedict said offensive coordinator Gordon Sammis is taking over as interim head coach while UConn conducts a national search for Mora’s permanent successor.

Colorado State fired Jay Norvell on Oct. 19. Norvell was in his fourth season and owned an 18-26 record, including an 8-5 mark and an Arizona Bowl appearance last year.

That 8-5 mark last year represented Colorado State's first winning season since 2017.

The Rams were 2-5 when Norvell got fired and have lost all four games since with defensive coordinator Tyson Summers working as their interim head coach. Colorado State (2-9) closes its season Friday at Air Force (3-8).

Colorado State has been part of the Mountain West Conference but will join the new version of the Pac-12 this summer. Mora had coached in a Pac-12 that looked dramatically different during his years at UCLA.

Mora’s stint at UConn represented a career comeback. He posted a 46-30 record at UCLA from 2012-17 and then was out of coaching and working as a television analyst until UConn hired him.

UConn went 6-7 and 3-9 in Mora’s first two seasons before going 18-7 over the last two seasons. The Huskies went 9-4 and won the Fenway Bowl last year for their first bowl victory since the 2009 season.

Mora went 26-22 as the Falcons’ head coach from 2004-06 and was 5-11 with the Seahawks in 2009.

Colorado Rockies promote Warren Schaeffer to full-time manager

DENVER (AP) — The Colorado Rockies have promoted Warren Schaeffer to full-time manager, the team said Monday.

Schaeffer assumed the role on an interim basis after the Rockies fired Bud Black, the winningest manager in franchise history, in May following a 7-33 start.

The Rockies finished the season 43-119 and in last place in the NL West.

“I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to continue leading this team,” said Schaeffer. “My focus remains on continuing to build a strong, unified culture based on accountability, hard work and trust. We have a group of guys who care deeply about competing the right way, and my goal is to keep strengthening those relationships while leading a team that our fans can embrace and be proud of.”

Schaeffer becomes the eighth full-time manager in club history. The 40-year-old has been a member of the Rockies organization for over a decade.

“We’re confident Warren is the right person to lead our club moving forward,” said Rockies President of Baseball Operations Paul DePodesta. “He has established strong relationships with our players, understands the culture of this franchise and embodies the energy and work ethic we want on and off the field.”

Black initially found success with Colorado when he led the Rockies to back-to-back playoff appearances in 2017 and ’18. They haven’t finished with a winning record since. Black’s contract was set to expire following the season. He signed a one-year extension in October.

Black was 544-690 in nine seasons while wearing the purple pinstripes.

Schaeffer's promotion was only one of the major changes for the Rockies this year.

They hired DePodesta this month from the NFL’s Cleveland Browns to run baseball operations. DePodesta, who inspired Jonah Hill’s character in the movie “Moneyball,” returned to baseball after nearly 10 years with the Browns. He was named Cleveland’s chief strategy officer in 2016.

During his nearly 20 seasons in MLB, he was the only executive to win divisional titles with five different organizations — the New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers and Cleveland.

He took over for Bill Schmidt, who stepped down following the season. The Rockies are in need of a transformation after becoming the first team with three straight 100-loss seasons since Houston in 2011-13.

Broncos coach Sean Payton highlights Wil Lutz's consistency as he discusses kicker's extension

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos returned from their bye refreshed, refocused and, at least in the case of kicker Wil Lutz, richer.

Lutz signed a three-year contract extension over the break, securing his role on the Broncos through 2028.

“First off, he's earned it,” coach Sean Payton said Monday after the Broncos (9-2) reconvened to begin preparations for their trip to play the Washington Commanders (3-8) this weekend.

Terms of his extension haven't been revealed. He's earning $3.9 million this season.

Payton said he huddled with general manager George Paton over the bye week and discussed several players' futures in Denver.

“The key is not affecting the mojo or how your team's doing, I'm always sensitive to that, especially when you're playing well,” Payton said. "Because sometimes those can be difficult discussions.

“But we were able to get Wil done. There's a couple other players that we've reached out to, and I think the key is the communication aspect of it all. But he's played well, he's consistent and I think he's got the respect of the locker room. Like all kickers, there's ups and downs, but he's been a great addition for us.”

Lutz's extension came at about the same time he earned AFC special teams player of the week honors after tying a career high by going 5-for-5 on field goal attempts in Denver's 22-19 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

The nine-year veteran has also been named AFC special teams player of the month twice during his time in Denver, in November 2023 and October of this season.

This season, Lutz has made 17 of 20 field goals (.850) and has converted on all 24 of his extra point opportunities for 75 points.

His 35-yarder as time expired against the Chiefs was his 13th game-winner of his career and third walk-off field goal this season. He also beat the Giants and Texans with field goals as time expired.

One of Payton's first moves in Denver was acquiring Lutz from the Saints in 2023.

Payton cycled through 10 kickers in his first decade coaching in the NFL but aside from injuries, Lutz has been his kicker over Payton's last eight seasons as head coach, five in New Orleans and three in Denver.

"I think it's good to always be someone's guy in this league," Lutz said. "Sean and I have won a lot of games together. We've hit some big kicks together. I think it's just understanding each other. He knows how to kind of get me in the right place. I know how to work under him.

“It's just a trust thing, right? I'm just grateful, nine out of my 10 seasons have been with him and my one bad year wasn't with him,” Lutz added. “So, I wouldn't say that's why, but yeah, we know how to work with each other and our success together has been fun.”

Notes: Payton declined to say whether CB Pat Surtain II (pectoral strain) or ILB Alex Singleton (testicular cancer surgery) would return to practice this week. ... Payton said his top priorities down the stretch are cutting down on penalties and having a better takeaway/turnover margin.

Jayden Daniels returns to practice with the Commanders but is unlikely to face the Broncos

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jayden Daniels returned to practice for the Washington Commanders on Monday after missing the past two games with a dislocated left elbow, but coach Dan Quinn said the reigning AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year is unlikely to play next weekend against the Denver Broncos.

“He has not been cleared for contact,” Quinn said about his starting quarterback.

Also back on the field were starting receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown. McLaurin has missed seven of the past eight games with a quad injury; Brown has missed all but two games this season and has been on injured reserve since Oct. 15 with a groin injury. Washington opened Brown's 21-day practice window on Monday.

Daniels hurt his elbow in a loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Nov. 2, when his non-throwing arm bent awkwardly as he braced himself while being tackled in the fourth quarter. Washington already was down by 31 points at the time, and Quinn acknowledged the next day that it was a mistake to still have his starting QB in the game.

Tests showed that Daniels tore ligaments in the elbow but did not need surgery.

Daniels then was absent for defeats against the Detroit Lions and Miami Dolphins, part of a six-game skid that dropped Washington's record to 3-8 a year after reaching the NFC championship game. The Commanders then had their bye week and will return to action Sunday night by hosting Denver (9-2).

Asked whether there was any thought given to shutting down Daniels for the season, Quinn replied: “That's not something we really discussed internally.”

After appearing in 20 of Washington's games last season, including the playoffs, Daniels already has had to sit out five starts, nearly half of the schedule. He missed two games with a sprained left knee and one with a bad right hamstring before the elbow problem.

Washington is 1-4 with backup Marcus Mariota starting at quarterback. He has thrown for seven touchdowns and five interceptions.

Daniels has eight TD passes and two interceptions, completing 105 of 168 passes — 62.5% — for 1,184 yards. He also has run 54 times for 262 yards and a pair of scores.

As a rookie, Daniels completed 331 of 480 throws — 69% — for 3,568 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He also gained 891 yards on 148 carries with six TDs. Washington was 12-5 in the regular season.