UCF KNIGHTS
JIM PANAGOS
DEFENSIVE LINE • THIRD YEAR AT UCF • MARYLAND, 1993 Jim Panagos is in his third campaign in Orlando, serving as UCF’s defensive line coach. He came to the Knights a�er spending four years as an assistant in the Na�onal Football League. In 2008, UCF’s defensive line was one of the strongest in the country. The group helped the Knights rank first in Conference USA in three categories – rushing defense, pass efficiency defense and tackles for loss. UCF recorded 8.62 tackles for loss per game, good for third in the country. The team ranked second in C-USA in total defense, holding foes to just 333.75 yards a contest. Defensive lineman Torrell Troup garnered a spot on the All-C-USA Second Team. UCF experienced immediate success in Panagos’ first year, going 10-4 in 2007, winning the C-USA Championship crown and par�cipa�ng in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The Knights’ defensive front showed great improvement during the season. The squad recorded 39 sacks on the season, which ranked first in C-USA and 24th na�onally. Panagos helped three Knights gain individual honors during the campaign. Leger Douzable (49 tackles, 7.5 sacks) was an All-C-USA First Team pick and fellow senior defensive lineman Keith Shologan (33 tackles, 2.5 sacks) was named to the allleague second team. Defensive end Bruce Miller totaled 38 tackles and 7.0 sacks and was named to the All-C-USA Freshman Team. Both Douzable (Minnesota) and Shologan (San Diego) signed free-agent contracts with Na�onal Football League squads in April. Shologan was also the fourth overall selec�on in the Canadian Football League Dra� by Saskatchewan. Prior to moving to Orlando, Panagos was on Minnesota’s staff in the NFL. In 2005, he served as the Vikings’ assistant defensive line and assistant special teams coach. During the 2004 campaign, Panagos helped rookies Spencer Johnson and Darrion Sco� take on star�ng roles at defensive tackle and defensive end, respec�vely. Panagos worked with Kevin Williams that season as the all-pro led all NFL defensive tackles with 11.5 sacks. Panagos joined the Minnesota staff in 2002 as the offensive quality control assistant. He contributed to the Vikings’ record-breaking season on the ground. For the first �me in team history, the Vikings led the NFL in rushing with 2,507 yards. From 1989-92, Panagos was a defensive lineman at Maryland. A two-�me letterwinner, he holds the school single-season record for blocked kicks with five in 1992. That same season, he led the Terrapins in sacks (5) and tackles for loss (12). In 1993, he began his coaching career as the assistant defensive line coach at his alma mater. Before joining the Vikings, Panagos spent four years teaching mathema�cs and coaching football, as well as several other sports, at the C.R. James Alterna�ve School in Tampa, Fla. He also volunteered with Tampa’s YMCA football program. Panagos worked in sales for the Safelite auto glass company from 1994-97. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal jus�ce from Maryland in 1993. A na�ve of Brooklyn, N.Y., he a�ended East Islip High School on Long Island, where he earned first-team all-state honors in football. Panagos and his wife Maureen have three children: Jack, Hayden and Olivia. Coaching Experience • UCF, 2007-Present Defensive Line • Minnesota Vikings, 2002-05 Defensive Line Assistant/Special Teams Assistant (2004-05), Defensive Quality Control Assistant (2003), Offensive Quality Control Assistant (2002) • C.R. James (Fla.) Alterna�ve School, 1994-97 Assistant Coach • Maryland, 1993 Defensive Line Assistant 140