The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
UConn adds Maine coach Nick Charlton as OC
UConn head coach Jim Mora on Wednesday announced two more additions to his staff, appointing Nick Charlton as assistant head coach / offensive coordinator / quarterbacks coach and Dalton Hilliard defensive backs coach.
Charlton, 32, was the head coach at Maine the last three seasons. He compiled a 14-13 overall record, including 6-5 in 2021.
“Nick is a dynamic and innovative offensive mind who is well-equipped to take our offense to a completely different level of efficiency,” Mora said in a press release. “Nick has an impressive track record of helping quarterbacks reach their potential, but his expert understanding of offense has helped countless student-athletes achieve success. I’m excited to welcome Nick to UConn and I know he can’t wait to get to work!”
Under Charlton’s guidance, Maine ranked fourth in the Colonial Athletic Association in scoring offense, averaging 25 points per game.
“I am incredibly excited to join Coach Mora’s staff and help this program reach new heights,” said Charlton, a Salem, Mass. native. “This is a tremendous opportunity and I look forward to getting started right away as we build a dynamic, exciting offense that UConn Nation will be proud of. As New England natives, my wife and I are thrilled to join the UConn family and uphold the national standing of this great university. It’s time to get to work and I couldn’t be more thrilled to do so for all of UConn Nation!”
As the offensive coordinator in 2018, Maine captured the CAA championship and advanced to the semifinals of the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history. The Black Bears averaged 26.5 points per game that season, their most since 2013.
Prior to arriving at Maine, Charlton served three years at Boston College as a graduate assistant under head coach Steve Addazio and then Boston College offensive coordinator, and now Ohio State head coach Ryan Day, where he worked on offense with the quarterbacks in 2014. Charlton helped mentor Boston College quarterback and Pittsburgh Steelers signee Tyler Murphy, a Wethersfield High product who set the ACC single-season quarterback rushing record with 1,184 yards.
In 2012, Charlton served
as the recruiting graduate assistant and assistant to the special teams coordinator.
Hillard spent the 2019 and 2020 seasons at Tennessee-Martin, serving as the defensive pass game coordinator each year and the cornerbacks coach in 2019, before being elevated to secondary coach in 2020. Hilliard was a defensive graduate assistant at UCLA during Mora’s tenure.
“I have known Dalton for a number of years and have great respect for his coaching ability and for his character,” Mora said. “Dalton has been making a positive impact on the lives of young men for years, and I know he will have a positive effect on our student-athletes both on and off the field.”
Hilliard’s first season with the program saw the Skyhawks rank first in the Ohio Valley Conference (OVC) in pass defense efficiency while also pacing the league in scoring defense (19.5 avg.).
“I’m excited about the opportunity to be a part of something extremely special,” Hilliard said. “Having played for Coach Mora, I have seen him transform a program from a player’s perspective. Now I’m here as a coach and ready to work! The UConn standard of excellence on and off the field has to be met on a daily basis and I am excited about that challenge.”
Prior to his time at UT Martin, Hilliard was on staff at UCLA, where he served as a defensive and special teams analyst for a season after spending 201517 as defensive graduate assistant under Mora. As a graduate assistant, he spent time at all major position groups on the defensive side of the ball at linebacker, defensive line and the secondary.