In addition, under Edsall's command and following a pattern he started at the University of Connecticut, the football program's Athletic Progress Rate (APR) moved significantly upward after a five year decline. The football team's APR, which measures eligibility and retention, increased its multi-year score from 922 (2009-2010) to 931 and its single year score from 905 to 972.
Prior to coming to College Park, Edsall, a native of nearby Glen Rock, Pa, spent twelve seasons coaching the University of Connecticut Huskies where he took the program from FCS (formerly I-AA) to five bowl games, including a BCS bowl. The 2010 Big East Coach of the Year led the Huskies to a 33-19 record over his last four seasons there, including two bowl victories and his leadership resulted in UConn being the first program ever to go from FBS newcomer to BCS bowl participant in just seven seasons.
Randy departed UConn as the school's all-time leader in career wins (74) and most games coached (144). He was a two-time recipient of the prestigious Bowl Championship Division Head Coach of the Year in New England by the Gridiron Club of Greater Boston (2007, 2010).
During his tenure at UConn, the Huskies finished in the top twenty nationally for total offense twice (2003, 2004) and total defense three times (2002, 200r5, 2008). Under Edsall's guidance Connecticut defeated teams from the ACC, Big Ten, Big East, Big 12, Conference USA and the SEC.
In 2007, as Edsall continued to grow the program to prominence, the Huskies earned their first-ever national rankings peaking at #13 in the BCS standings in November. That year they became just the second Big East team ever to go 7-0 at home and defeat three teams at home that were ranked in the top ten during the season.
Off the field, just as he is doing at Maryland, Edsall's teams were strong in the classroom as well. In 2007, 2008 and 2009 UConn was recognized by the American Football Coaches Association for its high graduation rate. In 2003 UConn was the only public Division I-A school to graduate at least 90% of its football players and in 2005, it was one of only eight schools to both graduate 70% and win a bowl game.
When Randy was named the head coach at Connecticut on December 21, 1998 he brought 19 years of coaching experience with him. He earned the job at Connecticut after a year as the defensive coordinator at Georgia Tech where the 14th ranked Yellow Jackets went 9-2.
Prior to his season at Georgia Tech Edsall spend three seasons under two-time Super Bowl Champion coach Tom Coughlin as the secondary coach for the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars. During his time in Jacksonville the expansion Jaguars reached the playoffs twice, including a berth in the 1996 AFC Championship Game.
Edsall began his coaching career in 1980 at his alma mater, Syracuse University. The former quarterback at Syracuse started as a graduate assistant (1980-82) before joining the staff in 1983 overseeing the running backs under head coach Dick MacPherson. Edsall oversaw the running backs for three years (1983-84 and 1986) and oversaw the tight ends in 1985 before making the switch to defense.
He coached the Syracuse defensive backs from 1987-90 and during that time the Orangemen were ranked among the Division I-A leaders in pass defense. After the 1990 season Tom Coughlin, then coach of Boston College, hired Randy to coach the defensive backs at BC.
Edsall was a three-year letter winner in football, basketball and baseball at Susquehannock High School (Pa.) and was an all-state selection in all three sports as a senior which led to induction into the York Area Sports Hall of Fame.
At Syracuse he earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Syracuse in 1980 and a master's degree in health and physical education in 1982.
Edsall and his wife, Eileen met at Syracuse University where she was a basketball and volleyball standout who was later inducted into the Syracuse University Hall of Fame. They have a daughter, Alexi (22) and a son, Corey (20).