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Randy Edsall, who worked diligently to create the football program at the winner of Connecticut, was hired to take a similar feat at Maryland.

Edsall was chosen Sunday to replace Ralph Friedgen, who was fired after a 10-year career at his alma mater.

Edsall spent 12 years in Connecticut. Led the Huskies to the Division I-AA (now FCS) and the Far East, where he won two conference titles and earned playoff appearances in each of the last four years.

Connecticut lost to Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl on Saturday night.

Edsall 52 years emerged as a surprise candidate for the job on weekends. He defeated former Texas Tech coach Mike Leach, who was considered the favorite when the search began Dec. 20.

Edsall, the 2010 Big East Coach of the Year, led the Huskies to eight or more wins in each of the last four seasons. He finished with a record of 74-70 at the University of Connecticut.

Edsall did not accompany the team on its charter flight back to Connecticut, and said the players were told nothing of his plans to drive after the Fiesta Bowl loss to Oklahoma.

The players said when they arrived, they began receiving text messages was hired Edsall reports in Maryland.

"We had a meeting in the locker room after the game with a lot of farewells," defensive tackle Twyon Martin said. "If Edsall had this decision, we are somewhat surprised, said nothing there is."

Maryland, announced the hiring in a press release Sunday evening short. College Park School will offer a press conference Monday afternoon to present its football coach Edsall.

First year of Maryland athletic director Kevin Anderson, Friedgen before Christmas. Friedgen completed a stay of 10 years in Maryland, with a victory over East Carolina in the Military Cup.

Even before Friedgen was removed, Leach was spoken as the leading candidate to replace him.

Leach, who won 84 games in 10 seasons with Texas Tech, was fired after the 2009 season. He had been accused of sexually abusing a player. He goes to Texas Tech unfair dismissal.

Associated Press writer Pat Eaton-Robb in Storrs, Conn., contributed to this report.