LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: James Lawrence Mora, born on November 19, 1961, has carved an impressive career in American football coaching. He is currently the head coach at the University of Connecticut, and his journey through the football world has been marked by both successes and unusual controversies.
Mora's coaching served as the head coach of the UCLA Bruins from 2012 to 2017 after having served as an NFL head coach. During this time, an unusual story emerged, linking him to a legendary rapper's murder.
Rob Cassidy's astonishing claim about Jim Mora
In January 2022, Rob Cassidy, Rivals’ head of basketball operations, made an astonishing claim. He asserted that Steelers running back Najee Harris “once told me that Jim Mora told him he knew who killed Tupac during a recruiting visit and I’ve never stopped thinking about that.”
The anecdote created a bizarre connection between Mora, Harris, and the unsolved murder of Tupac Shakur. However, Mora has denied these allegations. He told the Los Angeles Times, "A complete fabrication... I doubt Najee ever said it because it never happened." The story, according to Mora, was entirely false.
Cassidy, the source of the story, mentioned that Harris had shared this information during a camp at Fullerton College in 2016, a year before he began his college football career at Alabama. Cassidy described Harris' response as a "non-answer" that “was a throwaway comment in a larger conversation."
The Tupac Shakur murder case resurfaced in 2022 when Duane “Keffe D” Davis was charged with murder, nearly 27 years after Shakur's tragic death in a drive-by shooting.
Davis, a former gang leader, had previously admitted his involvement in the murder to the police back in 2009, as part of a proffer agreement. Las Vegas police homicide Lt Jason Johansson described Davis as the "shot-caller" for the group of suspects responsible for the rapper's killing.
Jim Mora's football career
Before his tenure at UCLA, Mora had also made a name for himself in the National Football League. He coached the Atlanta Falcons from 2004 to 2006 and the Seattle Seahawks in 2009. Following his coaching roles, he worked as an analyst for NFL Network and Fox Sports.
Mora's football journey began as a player when he participated in college football with the Washington Huskies from 1980 to 1983. He subsequently embarked on his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Washington in 1984, following in the footsteps of his father, retired NFL head coach Jim E Mora.
After he achieved success with UCLA, including two 10-win seasons and multiple bowl appearances, Mora's coaching stint ended when he was fired in late 2017 after three consecutive losing seasons. His initial venture as a collegiate head coach was plagued by a 4-8 record in 2016 and a 4-7 start to the next year, per New York Post.
However, Mora found a fresh start when he was hired by the University of Connecticut in preparation for the 2022 season. In his first year with the Huskies, he led the team to a .500 record and secured a spot in the Myrtle Beach Bowl.
In addition to his professional journey, it is worth noting that Mora has also faced some personal challenges. He has separated from his wife, Shannon, with whom he shares a daughter, Lillia, and three sons, Cole, Ryder, and Trey.
