University of Connecticut Athletics
Football
- Title:
- Assistant Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks
- Email:
- football@uconn.edu
- Recruiting Area:
- Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Maine
Nick Charlton enters his second season as the Huskies offensive coordinator and assistant head coach in 2023. Charlton came to UConn to join head coach Jim Mora’s staff last season after serving as the head football coach at the University of Maine from 2018-21. Charlton will also continue to coach the quarterbacks at UConn this season.
In his first season leading the UConn offense, the Huskies had a potent rushing attack, ranking 33rd in the NCAA by averaging 191.0 yards per game.
A 2011 graduate of Boston College, Charlton led Maine to a 14-13 overall record, including a 10-10 mark in Colonial Athletic Association action, during his three years as head coach. The Black Bears were also successful in the classroom under Charlton, as the team posted a program-best 3.26 GPA during the spring 2020 semester.
During the 2021 fall season, Charlton led Maine to a winning record, and the Black Bears won five of their last six contests. During that stretch, Maine defeated an FBS opponent for the fourth time in program history. That win over UMass marked the largest margin of victory of an FCS team over an FBS opponent during the fall 2021 season (35-10). Maine also defeated archrival New Hampshire, winning on the road at Durham for the first time in 20 years. Charlton mentored nine All-Conference selections in 2021, including six on offense, which marked the second-most in program history.
The Maine offense continued its success in 2021, ranking fifth nationally in turnovers lost and fourth in scoring offense in the CAA. Quarterback Joe Fagnano moved into 11th place all-time in passing yards, despite playing in only fourteen career games. Charlton continued to show his ability as a quarterback developer, leading second-string QB Derek Robertson to 12 touchdowns with only four interceptions after Fagnano suffered an injury in the second game. In addition to the quarterbacks, Charlton has coached five of the top 20 all-time leading wide receivers in UMaine history during his six years in Orono.
During the shortened 2021 spring season, Charlton guided Maine's passing offense to another impressive showing as the Black Bears ranked second in the CAA at 205.8 passing yards per game. Individually, four Black Bears earned All-Conference accolades including the passing duo of quarterback Joe Fagnano (second team) and All-CAA first team receiver, Andre Miller.
During his first season as head coach at Maine, Charlton spearheaded an offense that became one of the program’s best in the last two decades. Charlton, who continued to call the plays after his stint as offensive coordinator, improved Maine's points per game to 29.5, the highest average in seven years. Maine led the CAA, ranked 12th nationally, and set a new school record in passing yards per game (296.5), a figure even more impressive when factored in that Charlton mentored a transition at quarterback when three-year starter Chris Ferguson was lost to injury and replaced by true freshman, Joe Fagnano. In his first start against FBS-member Liberty University, Fagnano recorded 445 passing yards and five touchdowns. He would finish the year with nearly 2,000 yards, 17 TDs, and a 67% completion percentage.
Maine posted a league-leading and school-record 3,558 passing yards, with a school record 29 passing touchdowns.
In the 2018 and 2019 seasons, the Black Bears achieved great success against FBS opponents. In 2018, Maine defeated Western Kentucky 31-28, spearheading the team’s eventual title run. During those two seasons, the Black Bear offense scored 98 total points against FBS teams, the highest in FCS during that span.
As the offensive coordinator in 2018, the Black Bears captured the 2018 CAA championship and advanced to the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs for the first time in program history. The 2018 squad produced its best scoring offense (26.5 points per game) since the 2013 season.
Three Black Bears finished the 2019 season ranked in the top 10 of CAA leaders in receptions led by Edwards, who tallied 53 catches for 839 yards and 10 touchdowns. Senior Micah Wright racked up 47 receptions and six touchdowns, capping his career ranked fifth on Maine's all-time receptions list (168) and fifth all-time in receiving yards (2,233). Individually, the Black Bears earned five CAA all-conference offensive accolades.
Charlton also mentored second-year quarterback Ferguson to a career year, when he passed for 2,372 yards and 22 touchdowns while earning a spot on the College Football Performance Awards FCS National Performer of the Year Watch List. Ferguson's most impressive performance came in Maine's FCS second-round victory over Jacksonville State. Charlton's play calling helped guide Ferguson to a career-high, and Maine playoff record, five touchdown passes. Maine's offense racked up a season-high 55 points and 427 total yards in the postseason victory.
In addition, Charlton schemed an offense that helped pave the way for Ramon Jefferson to become the first freshman in school history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season. Jefferson completed the 2018 season ranked fourth in the CAA at 86.4 rush yards per game.
Charlton joined the Maine staff in spring 2015 as the wide receivers coach. He was named Maine's special teams coordinator in April 2016, a role he held until February 2018.
Charlton came to Maine after serving 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, who set the ACC single-season quarterback rushing record with 1,184 yards.
During the 2013 campaign, Charlton was part of a Boston College offense that manufactured a record-setting rushing attack, with Heisman Trophy finalist Andre Williams and three future NFL offensive linemen. Also in 2013, Charlton assisted in coaching Boston College's all-time leading receiver Alex Amidon and future San Diego Charger quarterback Chase Rettig. Charlton, as part of back-to-back bowl appearances with the Eagles, participated in the Advocare V100 Bowl and the New Era Pinstripe Bowl.
In 2012, Charlton served as the recruiting graduate assistant and assistant to the special teams coordinator.
Charlton graduated from Boston College in 2011 with a bachelor's degree in philosophy. He received a master's degree from Boston College's Woods School of Advancing Studies in 2013.
Charlton, a Salem, Massachusetts native, and his wife, Maria, have two daughters, Madeline & Lily, and a son, Scott.
Coaching Career
| Years | University/Organization | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 2022- | UConn | Assistant Head Coach/OC/QB's |
| 2019-21 | Maine | Head Coach |
| 2018 | Maine | Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks |
| 2016-17 | Maine | Wide Receivers/Special Teams |
| 2015 | Maine | Wide Receivers |
| 2013-14 | Boston College | Graduate Assistant (Offense) |
| 2012 | Boston College | Graduate Assistant (Recruiting) |
