It was a given that new football coach Bob Diaco was going to do a little housecleaning after being hired to breathe some life into the program.

Offensive line coach Mike Foley was the only assistant coach retained. Diaco also brought in a Player Personnel Director (Michael Painter) and will be hiring a Director of Football Operations. Nobody's departure has generated more backlash and reaction than the firing of Strength and Conditioning coach Jerry Martin. Former players have taken to social media to express their shock at seeing Martin, an award-winning strength coach, sent packing after 24 years.

One source told me that Martin was given three days to clear out his stuff which isn't exactly the most graceful way for somebody who has played a major role in helping the development of so many professional players to come out of UConn.

I felt it was only fair to get UConn's side of things before reporting on Martin's dismissal (his name is no longer on the UConn staff directory as Matt Balis was lured away from Mississippi State to take over the strength and conditioning program). After the game UConn AD Warde Manuel addressed the issue.

"Change is never easy," Manuel said. "While you want to make things as simple as you can, change happens. People come in and you need to make changes. None of this has been personal, it never has been for me but I am going to support Coach Diaco and our new coaches and that is just the way it has to happen. There is no easy way to do it. You try to be as sensitive and professional as you can but there is no easy way to say to somebody that we are bringing somebody else in and we really appreciate you but what they hear is 'I am not going to be here anymore.' You try to do as best you can. We are thankful for all the work that he did and now we are going to move on and bring somebody else in."

It should be noted that Balis, who worked with Diaco at Virginia, has received more than his share of support from his former players after news of his move to UConn became known.