Storrs — UConn made it official on Saturday morning by announcing that Billy Crocker, a 1997 Waterford High School graduate, has been named defensive coordinator by head coach Randy Edsall.

"I am very excited to have Billy join our staff," Edsall said in a statement released by the UConn athletic department. "When you research the work that he has done the past several years with the Villanova defense, the productivity and improvement is unprecedented. I am thrilled to bring the Connecticut native back to work with us here at UConn."

Crocker, who played at Coast Guard Academy after graduating from Waterford, agreed to a three-year contract at a base salary of $300,000.

Crocker spent 12 seasons at Villanova as an assistant, including the last five as the Wildcats' defensive coordinator. He took over a defense in 2012 that allowed 30.6 points per game the previous season (90th nationally), and immediately cut that total to 20.9, ranking among the Top 25 nationally.

This season, he coached a defensive that ranked No.1 at the Football Championship Subdivision. Villanova led the nation in FCS in total defense at 259.9 yards allowed and was also No. 1 in scoring defense at 15.0 points per game allowed. The Wildcats, who went 9-4 and qualified for the FCS playoffs, were also third nationally in red zone defense and fourth nationally in rushing defense (87.6 yards per game).

Villanova also held eventual FCS champion James Madison to its lowest output of the season (20 points) in a 20-7 loss on Nov. 11.

Crocker, who has a bachelor of science degree in business administration from Villanova and a master's in curriculum development and instructional technology from the University of Albany, coached running backs at Albany from 2003-04 before joining the staff at Villanova.

Crocker and his wife Kristina have three children, son Ryan and twins Will and Bryn.