COACHES/STAFF George O’Leary................................. 20-23 Sean Beckton ......................................... 24 George Godsey ...................................... 25 Dave Huxtable ....................................... 26 David Kelly ............................................. 27 Brent Key ............................................... 28 Jim Panagos ........................................... 29 Tim Salem .............................................. 30 John Skladany ........................................ 31 Charlie Taaffe ......................................... 32 Support Staff .................................... 33-38 President Dr. John C. Hitt ....................... 39 Director of Athletics Keith R. Tribble ..... 40 Administrative Staff .......................... 41-42
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GEORGE O’LEARY
HEAD COACH • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF • NEW HAMPSHIRE, 1969 In his six years at UCF, George O’Leary has helped the Knights achieve dozens of historic firsts including games in front of sellout crowds on campus, individual accolades for student-athletes, a conference championship and trips to prestigious bowl games. For O’Leary, it has been business as usual.
Defensive lineman Keith Shologan became the first player in school history to receive ESPN The Magazine Academic All-America First Team honors in 2007. Rocky Ross picked up Academic AllAmerica honors in 2009. Ross, Shologan and deSince taking over the program in 2004, O’Leary has made sure that UCF has fensive back Sha’reff Rashad have been selected reached new heights. On and off of the field, the veteran head coach has molded to the C-USA Football All-Academic Team under his program into a consistent winner. O’Leary. His hard work contributed to the construction of Bright House Networks Stadium. In 2008, Rashad was named to the league all-academic squad for the second-conInterest in the program has never been higher. His student-athletes are enjoying secutive year. In 2007, he was named the UCF Male Scholar Athlete of the Year, record success in the classroom, and the Knights are winning on the football field. becoming the second-straight football player to earn the honor. Rashad was twice named to the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame’s Hampshire In 2007, O’Leary guided the Knights to arguably the finest campaign in program Honors Society. Offensive lineman Dan Veenstra was the award winner in 2006. history. UCF won 10 contests, claimed the Conference USA Championship and participated in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl in front of a nationally-televised audience Guiding the Knights Toward Prominence on ESPN. The 2006 season featured several memorable moments for the Knights as they finished their final campaign at the Florida Citrus Bowl. Wide receiver Mike SimsThere was little suspense as to who would garner C-USA Coach of the Year honors. Walker had a record-breaking season. The Orlando native broke the single-season O’Leary was recognized with the award for the second time in three campaigns. school record for receptions with 90 and hauled in 1,178 receiving yards just a year For the Knights and their fans, 2007 was truly a year to remember. For the college removed from an ACL injury. He earned All-C-USA First Team honors and was one football world, the season was more evidence that O’Leary has built the Knights of five Knights recognized for their strong play by the league office. into a powerful program. In 2005, O’Leary’s second season at UCF, he engineered one of the top turnAnd just two years later, O’Leary and the Knights put together an impressive run arounds in the history of college football. Just one year removed from an 0-11 at the end of the 2009 season to earn a bid to the St. Petersburg Bowl. UCF went campaign, he guided the Knights to a historic season, complete with the program’s 5-1 down the stretch and won six-straight C-USA contests to close out the regular first bowl appearance. season. That included the Knights’ first win in school history over a nationallyranked Football Bowl Subdivision program when they upset No. 13/12 Houston, O’Leary led UCF to the fourth-best turnaround in NCAA history with a record of 37-32, on Homecoming. 8-5. The Knights went 7-1 in C-USA and claimed the league’s East Division title. The squad became just the sixth team in NCAA history to go to a bowl game a year Helping UCF Arrive on the National Scene after going winless as the Knights participated in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. O’Leary has already left his stamp on the Knights’ program. When he arrived in Orlando in 2004, UCF was not a factor on the regional or national scenes. O’Leary rebuilt the program from the ground up. He lobbied for new facilities, toured the state to gain publicity, restocked UCF with top recruits and made sure his student-athletes excelled in their studies. The growth of the program was no more evident than in 2007. UCF posted a school-record seven-game winning streak during the season. The conference championship was the first in program history. The 10 wins during the year established a program record at the FBS level. Nationally, only 19 teams won at least 10 contests during the year. O’Leary helped tailback Kevin Smith post one of the most dominant single-season rushing performances. The junior rushed for 2,567 yards, good for second all-time in NCAA history, and 29 touchdowns. He became the only rusher in the state of Florida and the 12th all-time in the NCAA FBS to eclipse the 2,000-yard mark in a season. The 2008 season saw Joe Burnett also earn first-team All-America honors as he shattered the school and C-USA punt return records and graduated ranked 19th in NCAA history in career punt return yards. In 2009, Josh Robinson was a first-team freshman All-American and Bruce Miller is on many preseason All-American teams heading into 2010. Miller is also the 2010 preseason C-USA Defensive Player of the Year, an award he also won following the 2009 campaign. Excellence off the Field O’Leary has reshaped the UCF program in every facet, including improved results in the classroom. The Knights turned in a successful effort in the classroom during the 2008 campaign, registering the highest in-season grade-point average in program history at 2.782. A total of 55 student-athletes recorded a GPA of least 3.0 during the fall 2008 semester.
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The college football world took notice of the turnaround. O’Leary was named the C-USA Coach of the Year. Both CBSsports.com and SportsIllustrated.com named him the national coach of the year. Facing an 11-game schedule with just four home games, his squad became just the fourth team in NCAA history to earn a bowl berth while playing seven road contests. Even more remarkable, the turnaround was made with a team of mostly underclassmen. Pipeline to the Pros O’Leary has experience coaching on the professional level and, as a result, has helped several Knights move on to the NFL. Seven Knights who played under O’Leary have been selected in the NFL Draft. Torell Troup went in the second round, 41st overall, to Buffalo this past April. Burnett was a fifth-round pick of Pittsburgh in 2009. Smith was one of three UCF players taken in the 2008 draft. He was the first pick of the third round by Detroit. Offensive lineman Josh Sitton went to Green Bay in the fourth round and Kansas City selected tight end Mike Merritt with its seventh-round pick. After his incredible senior season in 2006, Sims-Walker was selected by Jacksonville in the third round. In the previous year’s draft, wide receiver Brandon Marshall was Denver’s fourth-round selection. Other former Knights who played under O’Leary, including defensive lineman Paul Carrington, tailback Alex Haynes, tight end Darcy Johnson and kicker Matt Prater, have also spent time in the NFL. Success at Georgia Tech O’Leary was the head coach at Georgia Tech from 1994-01 after taking over as interim head coach for the final three games of the 1994 season. During his sevenyear stint at Georgia Tech, O’Leary guided the Yellow Jackets to a 52-33 record. The squad made five bowl appearances under O’Leary. From 1995-01, Georgia Tech recorded five winning seasons in six years. His 1998 squad won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship and played in the Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day. O’Leary’s Georgia Tech teams won at least seven games on four occasions , including a 10-win campaign in 1998 and nine victories in 2000. The 2000 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year, O’Leary was named the ACC Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2000.
One trademark of O’Leary’s tenure as a head coach has been the quality of his coaching staffs. While at Georgia Tech, he had three assistants who later garnered head coaching jobs. Ralph Friedgen (Maryland), Randy Edsall (Connecticut) and Ted Roof (Duke) all served under O’Leary. Both Friedgen and Edsall have led their schools to BCS conference titles. NFL Experience Prior to coming to UCF, O’Leary served on Minnesota’s NFL coaching staff for two seasons. In 2003, he was the Vikings’ defensive coordinator. In his first season with the team in 2002, he guided the defensive line into becoming the strength of the Minnesota defense. He also served as the squad’s assistant head coach. O’Leary also served as the defensive line coach for San Diego from 1992-93. In 1992, the defense had 51 sacks as the Chargers won the AFC West with an 11-5 record. Moving Up the Ranks O’Leary had the first of two stints at Georgia Tech from 1987-91. He served as the defensive coordinator/defensive line coach. The team finished 11-0-1 in 1990 and won the national championship, defeating Nebraska in the Florida Citrus Bowl. A Long Island native, O’Leary received his first coaching job at the collegiate level at Syracuse (1980-86). He coached the defensive line and was also the assistant head coach his final two seasons. He started his coaching career at the high school level. From 1968-76, he coached at Central Islip (N.Y.) High School. O’Leary was the head coach at the school from 1975-76, before taking over as the head coach at Liverpool High School. He posted a 37-8-1 record in five seasons as a prep head coach, including a perfect 10-0 campaign in 1979. O’Leary was born in Central Islip, N.Y., and attended Central Islip High School. He attended the University of New Hampshire and earned his degree in physical education. O’Leary and his wife, Sharon, have two daughters, Chris and Trish, and two sons, Tim and Marty. The O’Leary’s welcomed their first grandchild in 2006 as Tim and his wife Jennifer gave birth to a son named Tate. The couple had a second son, Cullen, in 2008.
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Fast Facts • Date of Birth: Aug. 17, 1946 • Hometown: Central Islip, N.Y. • Education: New Hampshire, 1969 (B.S. in Physical Education)
Year-by-Year Head Coaching Record Year School Record Notes 1994 Georgia Tech 0-3 Interim head coach 1995 Georgia Tech 6-5 1996 Georgia Tech 5-6 Coaching Experience 1997 Georgia Tech 7-5 Carquest Bowl • UCF, 2004-Present 1998 Georgia Tech 10-2 Gator Bowl, ACC Co-Champs Head Coach 1999 Georgia Tech 8-4 Gator Bowl • Minnesota Vikings, 2002-03 2000 Georgia Tech 9-3 Peach Bowl Defensive Coordinator (2003), Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line (2002) 2001* Georgia Tech 7-5 Seattle Bowl • Georgia Tech, 1994-01 2004 UCF 0-11 Head Coach (1995-01), Interim Head Coach (1994), Defensive Coordinator/De2005 UCF 8-5 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl fensive Line (1994) 2006 UCF 4-8 • San Diego Chargers, 1992-93 2007 UCF 10-4 AutoZone Liberty Bowl, C-USA Champs Defensive Line 2008 UCF 4-8 • Georgia Tech, 1987-91 2008 UCF 8-5 St. Petersburg Bowl Defensive Coordinator/Defensive Line at UCF 34-41 (six seasons) • Syracuse, 1980-86 Overall 86-74 (13 seasons) Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Line (1985-86), Defensive Line (1980-84) • Liverpool (N.Y.) High School, 1977-79 Bowl History Head Coach Season Bowl Result • Central Islip (N.Y.) High School, 1968-76 1985 Cherry Maryland 35, Syracuse 18 Head Coach (1975-76), Assistant Head Coach (1968-74) 1991 Citrus Georgia Tech 45, Nebraksa 21 1991 Aloha Georgia Tech 18, Stanford 17 Honors • 2007 Conference USA Coach of the Year 1997 Carquest Georgia Tech 35, West Virginia • 2007 Atlanta Touchdown Club Conference USA Coach of the Year 1998 Gator Georgia Tech 35, Notre Dame 28 • 2005 Conference USA Coach of the Year 1999 Gator Miami 28, Georgia Tech 13 • 2005 CBSSports.com National Coach of the Year 2000 Peach LSU 28, Georgia Tech 14 • 2005 SportsIllustrated.com National Coach of the Year 2001* Seattle Georgia Tech 24, Stanford 14 • 2005 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year finalist 2005 Sheraton Hawaii Nevada 49, UCF 48 (OT) • 2005 Paul “Bear” Bryant National Coach of the Year finalist 2007 AutoZone Liberty Mississippi State 10, UCF 3 • 2000 Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year 2009 St. Petersburg Rutgers 45, UCF 21 • 2000 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year • 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Coach of the Year (years as head coach in bold) • 1998 AFCA Region I Coach of the Year * coached Georgia Tech for its first 12 games of the 2001 season, but did not coach • 1998 Eddie Robinson National Coach of the Year finalist the Yellow Jackets in the Seattle Bowl
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UCF SUCCESS UNDER GEORGE O’LEARY
Conference Championship Appearances The Knights have played in a pair of Conference USA Championship Games since joining the 12-team league in 2005. UCF hosted the title contest in 2007, defeating Tulsa at Bright House Networks Stadium. The Knights also hosted Tulsa in 2005 at the Florida Citrus Bowl.
Bowl Trips UCF has made trips to three bowl games under O’Leary. After winning the C-USA title in 2007, the Knights faced Mississippi State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The program also participated in the 2005 Sheraton Hawaii Bowl and the 2009 St. Petersburg Bowl.
National Award Winners Under O’Leary, UCF players have received several national accolades. Joe Burnett was an All-America pick in 2008 as a kick returner. The previous season, tailback Kevin Smith earned consensus All-America honors after his recordbreaking 2007 campaign.
NFL Draft Picks Seven Knights have been selected in the National Football League Draft since the 2005 campaign, including three in 2008. The list of UCF players who have been picked includes Joe Burnett, Brandon Marshall, Mike Sims-Walker, Josh Sitton, Kevin Smith and Torell Troup.
Academic Excellence The Knights have also excelled off the field during O’Leary’s tenure, setting team grade-point average records on several occasions. UCF has had two Academic All-Americans under O’Leary. After the 2008 season, safety Sha’reff Rashad (above) was awarded a Conference USA Postgraduate Scholarship.
National Spotlight UCF has appeared on national television 31 times since O’Leary took over the program before the start of the 2004 season. In 2008, seven of the team’s games were aired on national television. Five of those games were shown on the ESPN family of networks.
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SEAN BECKTON
DEFENSIVE BACKS • 10TH YEAR OVERALL AT UCF • UCF, 1993 A member of the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame, Sean Beckton is in his 10th year overall at UCF, where he serves as the program’s defensive backs coach. He is in the second year of his third stint as an assistant coach at his alma mater. In his first year back at UCF in 2009, Beckton helped gel a secondary which featured four new starters and continued to improve over the course of the season. Josh Robinson was named a Freshman All-American after recording six interceptions and converted quarterback Michael Greco earned a free agent contract with the New York Giants after just one season as a safety. From 1996-03, Beckton served as UCF’s wide receivers coach. During that time, he mentored some of the best wideouts in program history, including Siaha Burley, Doug Gabriel, Jimmy Fryzel, Brandon Marshall and Mike Sims-Walker. Gabriel, Marshall and Sims-Walker all played in the National Football League after concluding their collegiate careers. Beckton’s success with the Knights included a four-year run where the program had a receiver ranked in the top six in the nation in receptions per game each season. Before re-joining the UCF staff under George O’Leary, Beckton spent time as an assistant for the Orlando Predators in the Arena Football League. A native of Daytona Beach, Beckton was a star wide receiver for UCF from 198790. He concluded his career as the program’s career leader in receptions with 196 and receiving yardage with 2,493. Against Texas Southern as a senior, Beckton threw a touchdown pass, ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown and also scored on a punt return. After brief stints with the Chicago Bears and the Cincinnati Bengals in the National Football League, Beckton returned to UCF in 1992-93, serving as an offensive graduate assistant coach, where he mainly worked with the Knights’ tight ends. From 1993-96, Beckton coached and taught history at Mainland High School in Daytona Beach. He helped Mainland to a pair of state championships, and in his role as a basketball coach, also helped mentor current National Basketball Association star Vince Carter. Beckton, who also played for the Predators from 1993-94, was inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame in 2000. He graduated from UCF in 1993 with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies and a minor in physical education. Along with his many football accomplishments, he has also served as the physical education department chair at Mainland. Beckton and his wife, Zorana, have a son, Sean, Jr., and a daughter, Zaria. Coaching Experience • UCF, 2009-Present Defensive Backs • Orlando Predators, 2008 Wide Receivers • UCF, 1996-03 Wide Receivers • Mainland (Fla.) High School, 1993-96 Assistant Coach • UCF, 1992-93 Offensive Graduate Assistant
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GEORGE GODSEY
RUNNING BACKS • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF • GEORGIA TECH, 2001 In his seventh year at UCF, George Godsey is in his second campaign as the Knights’ running backs coach. He spent the previous four campaigns as UCF’s quarterbacks coach, helping the Knights to a pair of bowl games. Godsey came to UCF in the fall of 2004 as the offensive graduate assistant coach to work under his former head coach at Georgia Tech – George O’Leary. UCF’s running game was stout in 2009 led by Brynn Harvey who gained 1,109 yards and 14 touchdowns to rank amongst the most productive seasons in UCF history. The Knights ran for a total of 20 touchdowns in 2009, tying for its second-highest total in a decade, after rushing for just eight scores in 2008. In 2007, the Knights won 10 contests, claimed the Conference USA Championship for the first time and participated in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Godsey stressed efficiency to his quarterbacks and those efforts showed up in the UCF record books. Kyle Isreal and Steven Moffett, who both started parts of two seasons under Godsey’s watch, rank in the top four in the UCF record books in the category of interceptions-to-attempts ratio. Moffett is tied for first at .030 (26/860), while Israel is fourth at .032 (17/517). Under Godsey’s guidance in 2006, Israel posted two of the school’s top-10 singlegame passing percentages, including a 19-of-22 (86.4 percent) showing in the season-ending victory over UAB. Israel’s effort versus the Blazers was second alltime, trailing only Daunte Culpepper, who completed 14-of-16 (87.5) in a win over Samford in 1995. Both Moffett and Israel finished their careers ranked in the top five on the career charts in pass efficiency as well under Godsey’s guidance. Moffett is fourth on the charts with a 133.68 clip, while Israel is fifth at 128.70. During Godsey’s first campaign as the team’s quarterbacks coach, UCF went 8-5 in 2005. The Knights finished first in C-USA’s East Division and headed to the Pacific to compete in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. As a quarterback at Georgia Tech from 1998-01, Godsey set the program record for career completion percentage (63.3) and ranked second in career pass efficiency rating (143.64). The rating is also the fifth-best in the Atlantic Coast Conference annals. As a senior in 2001, Godsey set a Georgia Tech record with 249 completions. He is third all-time at the school with 41 touchdown passes, fourth with 6,137 yards and 484 completions and fifth in attempts (765). The Tampa native concluded his career in the top 20 in ACC history in career passing yards (15th) and total offense (19th). Godsey garnered All-ACC Second Team honors in 2000 and was an all-conference academic selection in 2001. Following his collegiate career, Godsey played one season in the Arena Football League with the Tampa Bay Storm. He was part of the 2003 team that won the Arena Bowl title. Coaching Experience • UCF, 2004-Present Running Backs (2009), Quarterbacks (2005-08), Graduate Assistant (2004)
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DAVE HUXTABLE
DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF • EASTERN ILLINOIS, 1979 One of the longest-tenured members of the UCF coaching staff, Dave Huxtable is in his third season as the program’s defensive coordinator and seventh overall. After spending four years as UCF’s linebackers coach and special teams coordinator, Huxtable moved into his new role in 2008 and immediately guided the Knights to success. In 2008, the squad ranked 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, which ranked third in the country. The Knights were second in the league in total defense, holding foes to just 333.75 yards a contest. Several UCF defensive players received individual honors from C-USA, including defensive backs Joe Burnett and Sha’reff Rashad, who were all-league first team selections. That run continued in 2009 when UCF led C-USA in total, scoring and rushing defense along with sacks and tackles for loss. UCF joined TCU (2002-03) as the only teams to lead C-USA in rushing defense two years in a row. Many Knights were recognized for being a part of this, including the school’s first C-USA Defensive Player of the Year in Bruce Miller, Freshman All-American Josh Robinson who tied for the national freshman league with six interceptions, and defensive tackle Torell Troup, a high second round National Football League Draft pick by the Buffalo Bills. During Huxtable’s time at UCF, the Knights have participated in three bowl games, including the 2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. That season the team claimed the CUSA Championship title. Under Huxtable’s tutelage, several linebackers shined for the Knights during the 2007 campaign. Chance Henderson was third on the team with 74 total tackles, followed by Cory Hogue (72). A pair of rookies – Derrick Hallman (45 tackles, three sacks) and Darius Nall (22 tackles, one sack) – were named to the All-C-USA Freshman Team. Huxtable and George O’Leary worked together at Georgia Tech during the 1990s. While serving as the Yellow Jackets’ linebackers coach from 1992-97, Huxtable also spent time as the program’s defensive coordinator (1996-97) and special teams coordinator (1992-94). Under O’Leary, he was part of the staff that coached Georgia Tech to a 35-30 win over West Virginia in the 1997 Carquest Bowl. From 2001-03, Huxtable worked at North Carolina. He coached the linebackers for three seasons and also served as the team’s defensive coordinator for the final two years of his stint in Chapel Hill. In 2001, he also was North Carolina’s special teams coordinator. Huxtable helped guide a unit that finished first in the Atlantic Coast Conference and 15th in the nation in 2001 in total defense. In addition, he molded a group of inexperienced linebackers into one of the top units in the ACC. Under Huxtable’s instruction, former walk-on David Thornton earned All-ACC honors in 2001 after leading the Tar Heels with 131 tackles. That same season, fellow linebacker Quincy Monk was second on the team with 125 stops. Thornton (fourth round) and Monk (seventh round) were both selected in the NFL Draft. Prior to North Carolina, Huxtable spent a year as the linebackers coach and special teams coordinator at Oklahoma State. Before coaching the Cowboys, he spent two years on the East Carolina staff. Huxtable worked with the Pirate linebackers in 1998 and defensive line in 1999. He also worked at East Carolina in the early 1990s, coaching linebackers and special teams from 1990-91. Huxtable was on the staff when the Pirates defeated NC State in the 1991 Peach Bowl. Prior to his time at Georgia Tech, he coached at Western Kentucky from 1985-89 and was the Hilltoppers’ defensive coordinator in 1989. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Iowa State in 1982 and then served as the defensive coordinator at Independence Community College in Kansas. During his career, Huxtable has coached a pair of players who were selected in the first round of the NFL Draft: Robert Jones at East Carolina (Dallas, 1991) and Keith Brooking at Georgia Tech (Atlanta, 1997). 26
A 1979 graduate of Eastern Illinois with a bachelor’s degree in education, Huxtable and his wife Vicki have a daughter, Shea, and a son, Jake. Shea played tennis at Georgia Southern and Jake played the 2009 and 2010 seasons on the UCF baseball squad. Coaching Experience • UCF, 2004-Present Defensive Coordinator (2008-), Linebackers/Special Teams (2004-07) • North Carolina, 2001-03 Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers (2002-03), Linebackers/Special Teams (2001) • Oklahoma State, 2000 Linebackers/Special Teams • East Carolina, 1998-99 Defensive Line (1999), Linebackers (1998) • Georgia Tech, 1992-97 Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers (1996-97), Linebackers/Special Teams (1992-94) • East Carolina, 1990-91 Linebackers/Special Teams • Western Kentucky, 1985-89 Defensive Line/Linebackers • Independence CC, 1984 Defensive Coordinator • Iowa State, 1982-83 Graduate Assistant
DAVID KELLY
WIDE RECEIVERS/ASSISTANT HEAD COACH • FIFTH YEAR AT UCF • FURMAN, 1979 David Kelly is in his fifth campaign as UCF’s wide receivers coach. Kelly joined the UCF staff in 2006 as the program’s director of high school relations. He has over 30 years of experience coaching on the prep and collegiate levels. Kelly also serves as the Knights’ assistant head coach. In Kelly’s first year as UCF’s wide receivers coach, the Knights recorded one of the best seasons in program history in 2007. The squad went 10-4, claimed the Conference USA Championship and played in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. In 2007, he helped three UCF wideouts record at least 20 receptions. Rocky Ross paced the team with 50 catches and Kamar Aiken also had a strong season. The true freshman recorded 33 receptions and a team-high five receiving touchdowns. Fellow rookie A.J. Guyton totaled 23 receptions and two touchdowns as well for the Knights. The 2009 season was also a productive one for UCF’s wide receivers. Aiken’s nine touchdowns were the most by a Knight since 2005 while Guyton (44) and ESPN The Magazine/CoSIDA Academic All-American Ross (41) both made over 40 catches on the year. Kelly originally joined the UCF staff in 2006, serving as the program’s director of high school relations. In that role, he helped the Knights make recruiting inroads in Florida and in the southeast. Before coming to Orlando, Kelly served as the associate head coach and wide receivers coach at Duke during the 2004 and 2005 seasons. From 2000-01, Kelly worked under George O’Leary at Georgia Tech as the Yellow Jackets’ wide receivers coach. In Kelly’s two years at Georgia Tech, the Yellow Jackets went 17-8 and made trips to a pair of bowl games. At Georgia Tech, he mentored Kelly Campbell, who completed his career as the school’s all-time leader in receptions, receiving yards and touchdown catches. Campbell was an All-Atlantic Coast Conference First Team selection in 2001. Kelly served as the associate head coach and offensive coordinator at Stanford from 2002-03 and also held assistant coaching positions at LSU (1996-00) and Georgia (1994-96). While at Georgia, he served as the running backs coach and worked with Terrell Davis and Robert Edwards, who both went on to productive careers in the National Football League. Before entering the collegiate ranks, Kelly was the head coach at Dunwoody High School in Georgia from 1984-93. His teams went 80-36-1. In 1993, he led Dunwoody to a 15-0 mark, the state championship and a No. 3 ranking in the final USA Today national poll. That season, Kelly was named Georgia’s coach of the year by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Kelly graduated from Furman in 1979 with a bachelor’s degree in education. He was a four-year letterwinner with the Paladins, playing wide receiver, running back and cornerback. Kelly earned his master’s degree from Furman in 1981. Kelly and his wife, Belinda, have a daughter, Brittany. Coaching Experience • UCF, 2006-Present Wide Receivers (2007-), Assistant Head Coach (2007-), Director of High School Relations (2006) • Duke, 2004-05 Associate Head Coach/Wide Receivers • Stanford, 2002-03 Associate Head Coach/Offensive Coordinator • Georgia Tech, 2000-01 Wide Receivers • LSU, 1996-00 Wide Receivers • Georgia, 1994-96 Running Backs • Dunwoody (Ga.) High School, 1981-93 Head Coach (1984-93), Assistant Coach (1981-83) • Furman, 1979-80 Graduate Assistant 27
BRENT KEY
OFFENSIVE LINE • SIXTH YEAR AT UCF • GEORGIA TECH, 2001 In his sixth campaign at UCF, Brent Key is in his second season as the program’s offensive line coach. Key had previously spent two years as the Knights’ tight ends/ special teams coordinator. He originally joined the Knights prior to the 2005 season as the offensive graduate assistant coach. The progress in UCF’s offensive line was quite evident in 2009 as UCF improved from 229.5 yards per game in 2008 to 340.8 in 2009, one of the five-largest jumps in the nation. Right tackle Jah Reid earned first-team All-Conference USA honors for his work in 2009. While with the Knights, Key helped tight end Mike Merritt develop into a professional prospect. Merritt had 14 catches for 161 yards as a senior in 2007 and was a seventh-round selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2008 National Football League Draft. Merritt proved to be one of the best run-blocking tight ends in the country, helping the Knights set a program record with 3,287 rushing yards in 2007. Corey Rabazinski also had a strong campaign for the Knights in 2007. He totaled 10 catches for 66 yards with two scores. Working with Key in 2006, Rabazinski developed into one of UCF’s top receiving threats as a true freshman when he recorded 12 catches for 145 yards. During Key’s time in Orlando, the Knights have participated in a pair of bowl games, including the 2007 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. In 2007, UCF went 10-4 and claimed the C-USA Championship. A former standout at Georgia Tech under George O’Leary, Key was a four-year starter (1997-00) for the Yellow Jackets at right guard. During his career, he helped Georgia Tech rank in the top three in the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing all four years. Key started 44 games for the Yellow Jackets and was part of a senior class that earned four-straight bowl berths, a first for the program since the 1950s. During Key’s sophomore year in 1998, Georgia Tech went 10-2, earned a share of the ACC title and participated in the Gator Bowl. In 2000, Key was an All-ACC selection. He helped Georgia Tech rank in the top-20 nationally in total offense, passing offense and scoring offense. Key was also part of an offensive line that led the league in fewest sacks allowed with 16, including only 14 by the starting five. He earned ACC Offensive Lineman of the Week honors after his performance against Maryland, when he helped the Yellow Jackets record 547 yards of total offense. Following his senior season, Key played in the Rotary Gridiron Classic in Orlando. Key began his coaching career at Georgia Tech in 2001 as the offensive graduate assistant coach under O’Leary. Prior to joining the staff at UCF, he worked at Western Carolina in 2004, coaching the tight ends and fullbacks. Coaching Experience • UCF, 2005-Present Offensive Line (2009-), Tight Ends/Special Teams (2008), Recruiting Coordinator (2007), Graduate Assistant (2005-06) • Western Carolina, 2004 Tight Ends/Fullbacks • Georgia Tech, 2001-02 Graduate Assistant
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JIM PANAGOS
DEFENSIVE LINE • FOURTH YEAR AT UCF • MARYLAND, 1993 Jim Panagos is in his fourth campaign in Orlando, serving as UCF’s defensive line coach. He came to the Knights after spending four years as an assistant in the National Football League. Popular coaching website FootballScoop.com named Panagos its national Defensive Line Coach of the Year in 2009 after a season in which the Knights led Conference USA in several defensive categories en route to a berth in the St. Petersburg Bowl. UCF’s 82.8 yards per game in rushing defense ranked fourth in the nation behind only Alabama, Texas and TCU, all of which played in BCS bowls. Bruce Miller (13) and Jarvis Geathers (11) both hit double digits in sacks while tackle Torell Troup was an early second round NFL Draft pick by the Buffalo Bills. Miller was named the C-USA Defensive Player of the Year.
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.) Alternative School, 1994-97 Assistant Coach • Maryland, 1993 Defensive Line Assistant
In 2008, UCF’s defensive line was one of the strongest in the country. The group helped the Knights rank first in C-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. 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 participating 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 nationally. 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. 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 NFL squads. Shologan was also the fourth overall selection in the Canadian Football League Draft 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 Scott take on starting roles at defensive tackle and defensive end, respectively. 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 defensive quality control assistant. He contributed to the Vikings’ record-breaking season on the ground. For the first time 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-time 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 Terrapins, Panagos spent four years teaching mathematics and coaching football, as well as several other sports, at the C.R. James Alternative 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 justice from Maryland in 1993. A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he attended 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.
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TIM SALEM
TIGHT ENDS/SPECIAL TEAMS • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF • ARIZONA STATE, 1985 Tim Salem, who is in his seventh year at UCF, is in his second campaign as the Knights’ tight ends coach and special teams coordinator. Salem spent the previous five years as UCF’s offensive coordinator. Special teams were truly special for the Knights in 2009 under Salem’s coordination. UCF was fifth nationally in punt return defense and 10th in kickoff return defense. UCF was also 13th in kickoff returns as three different Knights enjoyed a kickoff return of at least 72 yards on the year. Meanwhile, Adam Nissley came into his own as a tight end and became a solid blocker while also catching 10 passes for 159 yards. He guided UCF to one of the best seasons in program history during the 2007 campaign. Behind a high-powered offense, the Knights won 10 contests, claimed the Conference USA title for the first time and participated in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Salem also spent time as the program’s running backs coach. In that role in 2007, he helped Kevin Smith record one of the best seasons in college football history. The consensus All-America tailback rushed for 2,567 yards, good for second alltime on the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision single-season list. He also found the end zone a nation-leading 29 times on the ground. Smith garnered C-USA Co-Offensive Player of the Year recognition and was a candidate for the Doak Walker and Walter Camp Awards. He was selected with the first pick of the third round in the 2008 National Football League Draft by Detroit. Under Salem’s direction, UCF set several school single-season records in 2007, including points (502), touchdowns (62) and rushing yards (3,287). The Knights averaged 35.86 points per game, which ranked 17th nationally. The 2007 campaign was Salem’s first mentoring the running backs. The previous year, he coached UCF’s wideouts and the Knights ranked 30th nationally in passing offense (233.75) and 34th in total offense at 373.17 yards per game. Wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker thrived in Salem’s system, garnering All-C-USA First Team honors after averaging 7.5 receptions, good for third in the country. Sims-Walker was selected by Jacksonville in the third round of the NFL Draft. Several Knights posted impressive campaigns in Salem’s offense during the 2005 campaign, in which the Knights won the C-USA East Division championship and participated in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl. Smith was named the league’s freshman of the year after rushing for 1,178 yards and nine touchdowns. Brandon Marshall and Sims-Walker combined for 2,050 yards and 20 touchdowns. During the 2005 season, Salem also tutored UCF’s tight ends. That year, Darcy Johnson had 36 receptions for 435 yards with two scores. In his first season in Orlando in 2004, Salem also coached the squad’s quarterbacks. Salem has a strong background in college coaching. Prior to working at UCF, he was the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Eastern Michigan in 2003. From 1997-00, Salem served as the quarterbacks coach at Ohio State where he tutored Buckeye great Joe Germaine to the 1998 Big Ten Player of the Year honor. Germaine registered 10 300-yard passing games that season. Salem also worked for six seasons at Purdue as the quarterbacks coach, while also serving as the offensive coordinator for three years. The 1995 Boilermakers led the Big Ten in rushing. Prior to Purdue, Salem spent two years at Colorado State (1989-90) as the running backs and special teams assistant coach and two seasons at Phoenix College (1987-88) as the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and assistant athletics director. During his two seasons at CSU, Salem helped running backs Tony Alford (1989) and Brian Copeland (1990) each lead the WAC in rushing. A 1985 graduate of Arizona State, Salem began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at his alma mater for two seasons. Salem began his collegiate playing career at Minnesota where in 1980 he set the Big Ten record for consecutive pass completions.
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Salem is a native of Minneapolis, Minn., and starred at the prep level at St. Thomas Academy. His father, Joe, was the head football coach at Minnesota from 1979-84. Salem and his wife Wendy have three children, sons Taylor and Landan and daughter Kylan. Coaching Experience • UCF, 2004-Present Tight Ends/Special Teams (2009-), Offensive Coordinator (2004-08), Running Backs (2007-08), Wide Receivers (2006), Tight Ends (2005), Quarterbacks (2004) • Eastern Michigan, 2003 Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks • Ohio State, 1997-00 Quarterbacks • Purdue, 1991-96 Offensive Coordinator (1994-96), Quarterbacks (1991-93) • Colorado State, 1989-90 Running Backs • Phoenix College, 1987-88 Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks • Arizona State, 1985-86 Graduate Assistant
JOHN SKLADANY
LINEBACKERS • SECOND YEAR AT UCF • CENTRAL CONNECTICUT, 1972 John Skladany is in his first year of his second stint at UCF and will coach the team’s linebackers. He previously served as UCF’s defensive coordinator in 2007. Skladany helped the 2007 Knights to the only conference title in school history and a berth in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. The Knights had five All-Conference USA picks on defense that year in Joe Burnett, Leger Douzable, Bruce Miller, Sha’reff Rashad and Keith Shologan. Burnett, Douzable and Rashad have all made National Football League rosters while Shologan plays professionally in Canada and Miller was the 2009 C-USA Defensive Player of the Year. The 2007 Knights intercepted a school-record 24 passes to rank third in the nation. UCF led C-USA in passing efficiency defense, was second in the league in rushing defense and was third in total defense that year, leading the conference with 39 sacks. Skladany has spent the past two seasons at C-USA rival Houston, helping the Cougars to a pair of bowl appearances and the 2009 C-USA West Division Championship. He spent 11 years at Iowa State from 1996 to 2006 as the Cyclones defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. While Skladany was at Iowa State, the Cyclones played in five bowl games. In 2005, Iowa State allowed just 10 rushing touchdowns, a school-record low. The defense held opponents to 19.2 points a game, the lowest Iowa State total since 1980. For the fourth time in five years, Skladany’s unit was ranked in the top half of the Big 12 Conference in total defense. The Cyclones paced the Big 12 and ranked seventh nationally, forcing 35 turnovers. Following the regular season, a pair of Skladany’s players, nose guard Nick Leaders and cornerback LaMarcus Hicks, were named to the All-Big 12 First Team. Middle linebacker Tim Dobbins, the league’s defensive newcomer of the year in 2004, defensive tackle Brent Curvey and safety Steve Paris all garnered second-team all-league recognition. Under Skladany’s leadership, the Cyclones allowed just 139.2 yards per game on the ground in 2004. Defensive back Ellis Hobbs, who currently plays for Philadelphia in the NFL, earned All-Big 12 First Team honors and the defensive MVP award in the Cyclones’ victory over Miami (Ohio) in the Independence Bowl.
Maine (1981-84) and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (1980) after two years at Utica High School in Ohio. The Haverhill, Mass., native played at Central Connecticut State, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1972. The defensive lineman had free agent tryouts with the New England Patriots in 1972 and the Washington Redskins in 1973. Skladany spent 1974 with the World Football League’s Birmingham Americans and played for the Ottawa Roughriders of the Canadian Football League the following exhibition season. He owns a master’s degree from Ohio. Skladany and his wife, Sharon, have two daughters: Laura and Stephanie. Coaching Experience • UCF, 2010-Present Linebackers • Houston, 2008-09 Defensive Coordinator/Safeties • UCF, 2007 Defensive Coordinator • Iowa State, 1996-06 Defensive Coordinator • Colorado State, 1993-95 Defensive Coordinator • Northern Arizona, 1990-92 Defensive Backs (1991-92), Defensive Line (1990) • Ohio, 1985-89 Defensive Coordinator (1988-89), Secondary (1985-87) • Maine, 1981-84 Defensive Assistant • U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, 1980 Defensive Assistant • Utica (Ohio) High School, 1978-79 Assistant Coach
Several of Skladany’s players at Iowa State moved on to the NFL ranks, including Reggie Hayward (Jacksonville) and Jordan Carstens (Carolina). Iowa State participated in the Humanitarian Bowl in 2002 after playing in the Independence Bowl the previous year. Hayward was a member of the Cyclones’ 2000 squad that defeated Pittsburgh in the Insight.com Bowl. Skladany’s defense lost seven starters from the 2000 unit, but his 2001 defenders recorded Iowa State’s best total defensive numbers since 1992. The defense dropped its yards allowed per game by 60 and shutout a pair of opponents in a single year for the first time since 1978. Carstens earned the first of two-straight All-Big 12 First Team honors in 2001. In 2003, defensive end Jason Berryman was the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year. Following the 2005 campaign, linebacker Alvin Bowen was a first-team all-conference pick. Before working at Iowa State, Skladany was on the staff at Colorado State. The Rams won Western Athletic Conference titles in 1994 and 1995 with Skladany coaching the defensive line. He coached Brady Smith, the 1995 WAC Defensive Player of the Year. The defensive lineman led the nation in sacks and tackles that season. Smith spent 10 years in the NFL with Atlanta. In both 1994 and 1995, the Rams made Holiday Bowl appearances. Skladany came to Colorado State after two years as the defensive backs coach at Northern Arizona (1990-92) and one season coaching the Lumberjack defensive line. Skladany coached at Ohio from 1985-89, serving as the secondary coach for three years and then taking over the defensive coordinator duties (1988-89). He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio in 1976. He also coached at 31
CHARLIE TAAFFE
OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/QUARTERBACKS • SECOND YEAR AT UCF • SIENA, 1973 Charlie Taaffe is in his second campaign as UCF’s offensive coordinator and quar- Coaching Experience terbacks coach. • UCF, 2009-Present Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks Taaffe’s impact on the UCF offense was instant and significant in 2009 as the • Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 2007-08 Knights made one of the five largest improvements in the nation from 2008 to Head Coach 2009. UCF’s total offensive average went from 229.5 yards per game in 2008 to • Pittsburgh, 2006 340.8. The Knights’ passing attack in particular saw a great boost, improving from Offensive Assistant 116.2 yards per game in 2008 to 210.3. UCF scored an additional 10 points per • Maryland, 2001-05 game on average, jumping from 16.6 to 26.2. It all added up to an 8-5 record and Offensive Coordinator/Quarterbacks berth in the St. Petersburg Bowl after going 4-8 the previous year. • Montreal Alouettes, 1997-00 Head Coach (1999-00), Offensive Coordinator (1997-98) Taaffe came to Orlando after spending two seasons in the Canadian Football • The Citadel, 1987-96 League where he served as the head coach of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. He brought Head Coach over 35 years of coaching experience to the UCF staff. • Army, 1981-86 Offensive Coordinator, Quarterbacks, Running Backs In addition to his time with the Tiger-Cats, Taaffe also served as the head coach at • Virginia, 1976-80 The Citadel from 1987-96 and with the Montreal Alouettes in the CFL from 1999Running Backs, Linebackers, Special Teams 00. • NC State, 1975 Graduate Assistant Taaffe most recently coached full-time on the college level from 2001-05, serving • Georgia Tech, 1974 as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Maryland. In his first camGraduate Assistant paign with the Terrapins, he helped guide the program to the 2001 Atlantic Coast • Albany, 1973 Conference Championship and a spot in the FedEx Orange Bowl. In each of his first Running Backs two seasons at Maryland, the Terps broke their school record for scoring, registering 390 points in 2001 and then 451 points the following year. Maryland played in three bowl games during Taaffe’s tenure, recording victories in the 2001 Peach Bowl over Tennessee and the 2004 Gator Bowl versus West Virginia. Under Taaffe’s tutelage, quarterbacks Shaun Hill and Scott McBrien both garnered All-ACC honors. Taaffe spent the 2006 season at Pittsburgh as an offensive assistant. While serving as Montreal’s head coach, Taaffe was the CFL Coach of the Year in both 1999 and 2000. Montreal advanced to the CFL East Division title game in 1999. In his final campaign with the Alouettes, Taaffe guided the squad to the 2000 Grey Cup final. Taaffe also worked as the team’s offensive coordinator from 199798 before taking over as head coach. From 1987-96, he posted a 55-47-1 mark as the head coach at The Citadel, winning more games than any other head coach at the college. His best year came in 1992 when the Bulldogs went 11-2, advancing to the Football Championship Subdivision quarterfinals. That year, The Citadel concluded the regular season ranked No. 1 in the nation and Taaffe was named the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year. While at The Citadel, he led the Bulldogs to victories over Football Bowl Subdivision teams on six occasions, including upsets of South Carolina and Arkansas. Four of his squads were ranked in the final FCS poll. In both 1988 and 1990 Taaffe was named both the Southern Conference Coach of the Year and the Kodak Region II Coach of the Year. Taaffe was the offensive coordinator, quarterbacks coach and running backs coach at various points in his tenure at Army from 1981-86. Taaffe’s time at West Point included berths in the 1984 Cherry Bowl and the 1985 Peach Bowl, the only time that the Black Knights have played in consecutive bowl games. In the three years that Taaffe served as Army’s offensive coordinator, the team posted a combined record of 23-13. Taaffe was also an assistant at Virginia (1976-80), NC State (1975), Georgia Tech (1974) and Albany (1973). After starting his collegiate career at Clemson, Taaffe played quarterback at Siena from 1970-72. He received his bachelor’s degree in education in 1973 and was inducted into the school’s athletics hall of fame in 1990. Taaffe and his wife, Jan, have a son Brian, who was a quarterback for the Knights in 2009.
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MARTY O’LEARY
OFFENSIVE GRADUATE ASSISTANT
ASSISTANT AD/FOOTBALL OPERATIONS • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF Marty O’Leary is in his sixth year on the UCF football staff as the director of football operations and seventh overall after spending one season as a graduate assistant. O’Leary was promoted to assistant A.D. for football operations in the spring of 2008 following the Knights run to the C-USA Championship title the previous season. Prior to UCF, he worked in the financial field for Invesco Retirement, Inc. O’Leary oversees the day-to-day operations of the football program from budget development, daily logistics of practice, as well as the institution of football policies and procedures.
In previous summers, O’Leary has been in charge of managing the UCF Football Women’s Clinic, which has helped teach the game to more than 500 female fans of the program. He also serves as a liaison between football and academic services, compliance and other campus governing bodies. O’Leary graduated from Georgia Tech in 2002 with a degree in business management. He lettered in football at Tech as a free safety.
SPECIAL ASST. TO THE HEAD COACH • THIRD YEAR AT UCF general manager and vice president of Tropical Ford Inc., turning the dealership from a 90-unit a month operation into a 600-unit a month operation, one of the largest in Orlando. Messegeur served as a pilot in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam era and remains instrument rated as a private pilot. He is originally a native of Miami and first moved to Orlando when stationed at McCoy Air Force Base. He lives with his wife Madalana. They have three children and five grandchildren.
ALBERT BOONE
Sean Gregory begins his first eason as the offensive graduate assistant for the UCF football program. Gregory starred at Georgia Tech from 199801 under George O’Leary where he led the Yellow Jackets in rushing in 1999, served as a team captain in 2001 and played in four bowl games. He signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Ravens in 2002. Gregory earned a bachelor’s degree in management from Georgia Tech in 2001 and worked in the private sector from 2003-10.
G. ALAN WILLIAMS FIRST YEAR AT UCF G. Alan Williams begins his first season as the defensive graduate assistant with the UCF football program. Williams comes to UCF after spending three years as the head coach of Suncoast High School in Riviera Beach where he sent eight players on to college. He had previously coached linebackers at Palm Beach Lakes HS (2004) and linebackers (2005) and defensive line (2006) at William T. Dwyer HS. Williams played defensive line at Kent State from 2000-03 before earning a bachelor’s degree in management and industrial studies in 2004.
OPERATIONS GRADUATE ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF PLAYER PERSONNEL • SECOND YEAR AT UCF Albert Boone is in his second season as the Knights’ director of player personnel. Boone focuses on assisting with UCF’s recruiting efforts. In this role, Boone manages UCF’s recruiting database, handles correspondence with recruits, helps coordinate recruiting travel and assists recruits during the admission process. He oversees all oncampus visits by recruits and directs events including junior day and high school coaches’ clinics. Boone is no stranger to UCF Athletics. From 2005-08, he served as an assistant general manager for ISP Sports on campus. During his tenure at ISP, Boone handled advertising sales, sponsorships and marketing. He also assisted in the production of UCF
FIRST YEAR AT UCF
DEFENSIVE GRADUATE ASSISTANT
MANNY MESSEGUER Manny Messeguer, who has missed only a few games in UCF’s 31 years of football, begins his third year as special assistant to head coach George O’Leary. Messeguer, who has met every UCF president, athletics director and football coach, began his association with the program in 1979 as a fan and proud Orlando resident. In 1982 he became a donor leader and has served the program in numerous capacities, including as a radio network sideline reporter and a personal pilot for former head coach Gene McDowell. Prior to formally joining the UCF program in February of 2008, Messeguer spent 18 years as
SEAN GREGORY
Sports Today with George O’Leary and the football weekly radio show. Prior to joining the UCFISP Sports staff, Boone was an account executive in the USF marketing and ticket sales office for one year. After graduating from Florida State in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in marketing, Boone worked as an associate adjuster for USAA Insurance.
ALEX THOMPSON FIRST YEAR AT UCF Alex Thompson begins his first season as the operations graduate assistant for the football program. Thompson earned four varsity letters for the Knights from 2006-09 as a linebacker and special teams standout. He played in 42 games for UCF, making 56 tackles, including 24 his senior year. A native of Gainesville where he was an all-state pick at Buchholz High School, Thompson earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from UCF in 2009 and is currently working on a master’s degree in that same discipline.
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MARY VANDER HEIDEN
HEAD ATHLETIC TRAINER/FOOTBALL • 11TH YEAR AT UCF Mary Vander Heiden begins her 11th year as an athletic trainer for UCF and third as the head football trainer. Vander Heiden completed her master’s of arts degree in exercise physiology in 2001 from UCF while serving as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for the football team. A 1998 graduate of Wisconsin Eau-Claire, Vander Heiden earned a B.S. degree in kinesiology, with a minor in exercise management and a concentration in sports medicine. Prior to her graduation, Vander Heiden attended Wisconsin-Stout where she played softball from 1993-97. As part of her graduation requirements at UW
Eau-Claire, Vander Heiden worked with the University of Minnesota football team as a student athletic trainer. Vander Heiden served as the associate head athletic trainer for the annual Gridiron Classic from 1999-04. She was an instructor in the NATABOC Accredited Athletic Training Program at UCF from 2001-04, teaching Intro to Pharmacology and Field Applications and assisting with Biomechanics and Modalities as a lab instructor. Vander Heiden remains a clinical instructor. Vander Heiden is a native of Port Washington, Wis.
JUD FANN
ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER • FOURTH YEAR AT UCF Jud Fann embarks on his fourth season at UCF serving as the top assistant on the Knights’ athletic training staff. Fann coordinates all day-to-day athletic training operations for UCF football. Fann came to UCF from Stetson where he served as an assistant athletic trainer from 2005-07, working with the Hatters’ men’s basketball team. He also served as an assistant strength and conditioning coach while at Stetson. A native of Safety Harbor, Fann graduated from UCF in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in ath-
letic training and also worked as a student athletic trainer while an undergraduate. He earned a master’s degree in exercise science from Tennessee. While in Knoxville, Fann served as a graduate assistant athletic trainer for UT’s intramural and club sports. He is a member of NATA, the NSCA, ATAF and SEATA.
ASSISTANT ATHLETIC TRAINER
ED WOODLEY THIRD YEAR AT UCF Ed Woodley starts his third season as an assistant athletic trainer working for the Knights’ football team. He helps in a full-time capacity with all day-to-day athletic training components of the UCF football program. Woodley first came to the Sunshine State as an athletic training intern at the University of Florida where he worked mainly with the Gator football and men’s tennis teams. He spent the 2006-08 seasons as a graduate assistant at Southern Miss working with the softball, football, track and field and cross country teams in Hattiesburg. He also worked a summer internship with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008 and as a student athletic trainer at the United States Air Force Academy for the fall 2003 semester.
GA ATHLETIC TRAINER
PHIL WORTS FIRST YEAR AT UCF Phil Worts is in his first year as the UCF football team’s graduate assistant athletic trainer. Worts assists in all of the team’s dayto-day athletic training needs including injury care and prevention while also instructing in the athletic training educational program. He has spent the past year working at Winter Park High School and Jewett Physical Therapy. As a student athletic trainer at UCF from 2007-09, Worts worked with football, baseball, rowing and women’s soccer. He also assisted at both Winter Park and Timber Creek High Schools. Worts earned an associate’s degree in liberal studies from Fullerton (Calif.) College in 2005 and a cum laude bachelor’s degree in health science with an emphasis in athletic training and a fitness training minor from UCF in 2009. Worts is currently pursuing a master’s degree in sports and fitness from UCF with an emphasis in applied exercise physiology. He is a member fo NATA, ATAF, SEATA and the NSCA.
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DR. KENNETH KRUMINS, M.D. TEAM PHYSICIAN
Kenneth A. Krumins, M.D. has been an orthopaedic surgeon since 1997 and has been part of the Winter Park/Orlando community ever since. Krumins became the head team physician for UCF in 2003. He has been trained in and is extremely successful in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgery of the knee, sports medicine and general orthopaedics. Krumins serves as the Chairman of Orthopaedics at Winter Park Hospital. After earning a bachelor’s degree from DePauw
in 1986, Krumins attended The Medical College of Pennsylvania, graduating in 1990. He was both an intern and resident at West Chester County Medical Center in New York while also doing a residency at the State University of New York Health Science Center in Syracuse. He first came to Florida in 1997 as a fellow at Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic in Winter Park.
DR. DANIEL MONETTE, M.D. TEAM PHYSICIAN
Dr. Daniel Monette has been with UCF since 2002, while he also assists with Seminole High School and Seminole Community College. An associate clinical professor at Florida State, Monette works at the North Seminole Family Practice and Sports Medicine in Sanford. Throughout his career, Monette has been associated with the athletics scene. In 1999, he was a spectator urgent care physician for NASCAR and worked at Daytona International Speedway from
2001-02 as an attending physician. He also has spent time with Embry-Riddle, Daytona Beach Community College and Bethune-Cookman University. A graduate from the University of Colorado in 1994 with a bachelor of arts in African American studies, Monette received his medical doctorate from the UC Health Sciences Center in 1998.
UCF ALL-TIME ASSISTANT COACHING ROSTER Aldridge, Miles .................................................... 2004-06 Amman Richard ................................................... 1981-82 Anderson, Jerry ................................................... 1983-84 Barbour, Bernie .........................................................1980 Barresi, Jamie ...................................................... 2001-03 Beckton, Sean........................................1996-03, ‘09-10 Bennet, Bruce ...................................................... 1986-88 Bernhardt, Jim ..................................................... 2005-06 Blackney, Gary ...........................................................2008 Bland, Tommy ...................................................... 1979-80 Brady, Dave ................................................................1979 Carter, Aaron .............................................................1985 Carter, Doug......................................................... 1985-86 Chandler, Ernie ..........................................................1979 Chandler, Wes...................................................... 1994-95 Chizik, Gene ......................................................... 1998-01 Coatta, John ...............................................................1985 Collins, Earnest ..........................................................2007 Collins, Geoff ....................................................... 2008-09 Coso, Nick ............................................................ 1983-84 Costantini, Lorenzo .............................................. 2000-03 Cox, Andy............................................................. 1996-99 Crossman, Danny ................................................. 1997-98 Cubit, Bill ............................................................. 1983-85 D’ottavio, Bill........................................................ 1999-03 Dorrell, Karl ...............................................................1989 Ector, Robert ........................................................ 1991-93 Engelberg, Lewis “Bugsy” ..........................................1980 Flournoy, Melvin .................................................. 1987-88 Fontes, John ........................................................ 2002-03 Forbes, Reggie ...........................................................1981 Fountain, Scott .................................................... 1997-03 Freeman, Tom...................................................... 2007-08 Fry, Craig .............................................................. 1983-84 Gilbert, Joe .......................................................... 2004-06 Godsey, George ................................................ 2005-10 Gooch, Alan ......................................................... 1991-03 Goodyear, Tod...................................................... 1981-83 Graham, Mark ...........................................................1995 Green, Art ..................................................................1979 Green, Eric .................................................................2004 Hatcher, Chris ............................................................1996 Heath, Ted .................................................................1992 Hemmer, John ..........................................................1979 Hinshaw, Darin...........................................................2000 Hoffman, Charlie ................................................. 1989-90 Huff, Charles ........................................................ 1997-02 Huxtable, Dave ................................................. 2004-10 Jeremia, Davis (J.D.) ...................................................1983 Jones, Willie......................................................... 1995-96 Kelly, David....................................................... 2007-10
Kessier, Bob ...............................................................1981 Key, Brent ......................................................... 2006-10 Koschewa, Edgar.................................................. 1993-94 Kruczek, Mike ...................................................... 1985-97 LePain, Matt ........................................................ 1995-96 Lounsberry, Paul .................................................. 1987-99 Manfredi, Terry ..........................................................1982 Martin, Dana ....................................................... 1985-93 Martinez, Willie ................................................... 1995-96 McCarthy, D.J. ...................................................... 2004-05 McCarty, Peter ..................................................... 2004-07 McCaskill, Jack ...........................................................1979 McCrone, Ron ...................................................... 1992-94 McFarland, Robert ............................................... 2000-03 Messina, Mike ...........................................................1989 Miller, Eric..................................................................1994 Moore, Tom ...............................................................1991 Moss, Perry.......................................................... 1986-87 Murphy, Tom ....................................................... 1979-82 Nelsen, Bill .................................................................1994 Nickrenz, Chris ...........................................................1985 Owens, Billy ...............................................................1991 Panagos, Jim ..................................................... 2007-10 Parker, Frank ..............................................................1981 Perkins, Jay ................................................................1993 Pesonen, Dick ............................................................1980 Piccinini, John ............................................................1979 Polian, Brian ..............................................................2004 Pollard, Don “Deek” ............................................ 1990-93 Richart, Phil ......................................................... 1981-82 Robinson, Joe ............................................................2003 Rock, Matt .....................................................1994-95, ‘99 Romero, Randy .................................................... 1986-90 Ross, Lou.............................................................. 1979-80 Russell, Rusty .............................................................1989 Salem, Tim ....................................................... 2004-10 Scott, Dennis..............................................................1984 Seagraves, Al........................................................ 1983-85 Shackelford, Bob .................................................. 1988-90 Sirota, Mitch ..............................................................1983 Skladany, John .................................................2007, ‘10 Snell, David ................................................................1991 Stewart, Bill ...............................................................1994 Stewart, Pete .............................................................1983 Stockstill, Rick ...................................................... 1985-88 Taaffe, Charlie................................................... 2009-10 Thompson, Lance ................................................ 2004-06 Tuzzeo, Ray ................................................................1979 VanGorder, Brian ................................................. 1995-97 Winters, Bill ...............................................................1991 Current assistant coaches in bold.
TEAM PHYSICIAN
DR. MICHAEL JABLONSKI, M.D. Dr. Michael Jablonski has worked with the UCF football team since 2003 and is also the primary physician for UCF’s basketball and baseball teams. He is also an assistant team physician for the Orlando Magic and physician to the Orlando Ballet. Jablonski works at the Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic where he specializes in arthroscopic and reconstructive knee and shoulder surgery. He is certified by the AmericanBoard of Orthopaedic Surgery. Jablonski earned his pre-med degree from Florida in 1991, graduated from UF’s College of Medicine in 1995 and served as a resident at UF’s College of Medicine until 2000. Jablonski then spent a year as a fellow at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Ala.
TEAM PHYSICIAN
DR. DOUGLAS MEUSER, M.D. Dr. Douglas Meuser has a 21-year history of service in the Orlando area. He has been actively involved with UCF athletics since 2001 as a primary care physician. After arriving in 1989, he practiced for nine years as a community primary care physician. He taught at the Family Medicine residency at Florida Hospital between 1998 and 2006. He currently practices at Personalized Primary Care with emphasis on patient-centered care, evidencebased medicine and preventive health. For the past six years, Meuser has received the “Best Doctor” award. Twice he received the Florida Hospital Faculty of the Year award for his residency training work. He continues to provide clinical and classroom instruction for local medical students. Since 2004, Meuser serves as the medical director the Athletic Training Educational Program at UCF. He is a native of Columbus, Ohio. After graduating from St. Olaf College, he received his medical degree from Ohio State with honors. His post-graduate training was completed at Florida in family medicine. In 1999, he earned a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. Meuser is an active member of the AAFP, FAFP, AMSSM and Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society. 35
ED ELLIS
ASST. STRENGTH & CONDITIONING
DIRECTOR OF STRENGTH & CONDITIONING • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF Ed Ellis is in his seventh season as the director of strength and conditioning at UCF, working directly with the football program while overseeing the strength and conditioning efforts for UCF’s 16-sport athletics program. Ellis served in the same capacity at Georgia Tech for the 2001-03 seasons before arriving at UCF in January of 2004. The 2000 College Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year for the Atlantic Coast Conference by the National Strength and Conditioning Association, he was the head strength coach at Wake Forest for seven years before his stint at Georgia Tech. Prior to his stretch at Wake Forest, Ellis spent four years (1991-94) as the head strength and conditioning coordinator at Illinois State and two years (1989-91)
as an assistant strength coach at Ole Miss. He started his career as a graduate assistant at Arkansas from 1987-89. Ellis earned his bachelor’s degree in physical education from Alabama in 1987 and received a master’s degree in education from Arkansas in 1989. Ellis is a master strength coach, which is the highest honor given by the collegiate strength and conditioning association. Ellis is married to the former Dyann Edmonston, and the couple has four children: Jessica, Nicole, Eric and Brian.
SCOTT SINCLAIR
B.J. FAULK SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF B.J. Faulk is in his seventh year as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at UCF. Faulk works with football as well as men’s basketball, baseball and track and field. Faulk has worked previously at both Illinois State and Wake Forest. He is a 1995 graduate of Illinois State, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology. He was a member of the track and field team for two years.
ASST. DIR. OF STRENGTH & CONDITIONING • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF Scott Sinclair is in his seventh year at UCF as an assistant director of strength and conditioning. He works with the football program while also training the men’s and women’s golf teams. Sinclair came to UCF after working as an assistant strength and conditioning coach at Georgia Tech from 2001-03. While with the Yellow Jackets, Sinclair worked as the director of player development for Georgia Tech’s football squad. Prior to Georgia Tech, he served as an assistant at Wake Forest from 199901. A native of Rockingham, N.C., Sinclair earned his bachelor’s degree in sports medicine from Guliford College in 1999. He received a master’s degree in
physical education from UCF in 2006. Sinclair is a member of both the National Strength and Conditioning Association and the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. Sinclair is also a certified strength and conditioning coach through the Collegiate Strength and Conditioning Coaches Association. Sinclair and his wife, Farrah, have one son, Creed, and one daughter, Asher.
DIRECTOR OF SPORTS TURFS & GROUNDS
ROBERT SAMPLE 10TH YEAR AT UCF Robert Sample has been at UCF since 2001 and, along with a diligent staff of eight, expertly maintains all of UCF’s varsity and intramural playing fields, covering 30 acres in all. Sample helps ensure that Bright House Networks Stadium and UCF’s practice fields are in excellent condition for the Knights. Prior to UCF, Sample worked for the PGA Tour for over 20 years, maintaining several courses including the TPC Scottsdale, TPC at Prestancia, Tucson’s Starr Pass and, eventually, Orange County National in Orlando. Sample graduated from Michigan State with a bachelor’s degree in turf grass management. He also attended Murray State where he played two years of varsity golf for the Racers. Sample resides with his wife, Leah.
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ROBERT JONES
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
DIRECTOR OF EQUIPMENT OPERATIONS • 11TH YEAR AT UCF Robert Jones begins his 11th season as the equipment coordinator at UCF. His primary responsibility is with the sport of football while he also oversees the equipment department for all 16 sports. Prior to getting back in collegiate athletics, Jones spent two years with Bike Athletic as its National Promo Director. Jones’ career in equipment began in 1985 with the Orlando Renegades of the USFL. A 1984 graduate of Carson Newman, Jones worked previously in equipment departments at
Northwestern (1985-87), Purdue (1987-93) and Louisville (1993-00). Jones and his staff were named the 2006-07 Conference USA Equipment Staff of the Year at the annual Athletic Equipment Managers Association Convention.
THADDEUS RIVERS
ASSISTANT EQUIPMENT MANAGER • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF Thaddeus Rivers is in his seventh season at UCF as the assistant equipment manager for football, coming to Orlando in 2004. Rivers handles all dayto-day equipment operations for UCF’s football team and support staff, including ordering, issuing, maintaining and inventory. He also orders equipment for the sports medicine, video services and strength and conditioning departments. Rivers came to UCF after spending three seasons working in equipment operations for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers under the direction of Tim Sain, including the Buccaneers Super Bowl XXXVII win over the Oakland Raiders in San Diego. Rivers was previ-
ously a student equipment manager at the University of Florida for four years while an undergraduate. A native of Tallahassee, Rivers graduated from UF in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in commercial recreation and general business. He went on to earn a master’s from UCF in sports and fitness in 2008. Rivers is a member of AEMA. He and his wife, Rochelle, have a daughter, Adriann.
DANIELLE CUMM FIRST YEAR AT UCF Danielle Cumm is in her first season at UCF serving as the administrative assistant for the assistant coaching staff. She helps the staff with the compilation and assembly of playbooks and other tasks preparing the Knights for game day and beyond. She also serves as a general receptionist for the Wayne Densch Sports Center. Cumm spent 2005-08 working in UCF’s athletic marketing office where she was primarily responsible for baseball while also assisting with football and basketball. She was a marketing intern for the Houston Astros during their 2009 spring training in Kissimmee. A native of Jacksonville, Cumm earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from UCF in 2005 and a master’s degree in communications from UCF in 2007.
SR. ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
LINDA WATTS FOURTH YEAR AT UCF Linda Watts is in a familiar role serving as the administrative assistant to head coach George O’Leary as she also worked in that capacity at Georgia Tech. Watts coordinates much of O’Leary’s schedule and helps with general office management. She worked for over 30 years at Georgia Tech, including time under head coaches Pepper Rodgers and Billy Curry, along with O’Leary. She also worked directly for many Georgia Tech athletic administrators during her time in Atlanta. Watts is a native of Chattanooga who attended Chattanooga Business School and spent 13 years at Western Union before going to Georgia Tech. She has three daughters, Tracie, Michelle and Sabrina, three grandchildren, Marcus, Shannon and Logan, and a pair of great grandchildren, Marcus, Jr. and Hannah.
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JOHN KVATEK
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR • ASSA
DIRECTOR OF VIDEO SERVICES • SEVENTH YEAR AT UCF John Kvatek enters his seventh season as a football support staff member and the director of video services at UCF. A 20-year veteran in the business, Kvatek was named the 2006-07 Bob Matey National Video Coordinator of the Year at the annual Collegiate Sports Video Association in May of 2007. Prior to his arrival at UCF, Kvatek worked at Pinnacle Systems, Inc., where he worked from 199904. During his tenure at Pinnacle, Kvatek served as a product marketing manager for Networked News and Sports Editing Solutions. Prior to Pinnacle Systems, Kvatek was the athletic video services coordinator at Wisconsin from 1995-99. During his time in Madison, Kvatek was responsible for the development and utilization of the world’s first
digital video network for sports video analysis and editing and was a member of the Kohl Center Design Team. Kvatek has also worked as a video coordinator at Virginia Tech and Miami (Ohio) in their respective athletic departments. He is a graduate of Miami with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. Kvatek was the Big Ten Video Coordinator of the Year in 1998 and earned the Conference USA award in 2007, 2009 and 2010. Kvatek and his wife, Michelle, have three sons: Conor, Liam and Declan.
NINTH YEAR AT UCF Kristy Belden is in her ninth year at UCF, where she serves as an associate director in the academic services for student-athletes office. She serves as the lead advisor for the Knights’ football team. She recieved her bachelor’s degree from St. John’s. Belden was a member of the Red Storm track and field team. Belden earned a master’s degree in educational psychology/sport psychology from Florida State. Kristy and her husband welcomed their first daughter, Zoe, in February.
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR • ASSA
CHRIS HOOLEY
ASST. DIRECTOR/VIDEO SERVICES • SIXTH YEAR AT UCF Chris Hooley is starting her sixth football season at UCF as the assistant director of video services. Hooley assists heavily with football and serves in a primary role for a total of nine sports at UCF, including both basketball teams. While with the Knights, she has been a part of UCF video staffs that were named Conference USA’s best in 2007, 2009 and 2010. Hooley came to UCF from Southern Miss where she served as video coordinator from 2000-05 where she oversaw all team video operations. Hooley was recognized as the best in C-USA by her peers in both 2001 and 2004 while at USM. She came to Hattiesburg from Houston where she spent 1998-00 as as-
KRISTY BELDEN
sistant video director for the Cougars. She worked directly with football and the Clyde Drexler-coached basketball team while also overseeing students who covered all UH sporting events. The native of Sistersville, W. Va., graduated from Kentucky in 1996 with a bachelor’s degree in telecommunications. Hooley also worked in the UK sports video office as a student.
LINDSEY HEROLD SECOND YEAR AT UCF Lindsey Herold joined the ASSA staff as a full-time advisor in June of 2009. Her current role includes being an advisor for football, women’s tennis and UCF’s nationally-recognized spirit program. Herold has also taken part in creating and implementing the Shining Knights Summer Bridge Program where she co-teaches the student-athlete section of the student success course at UCF. A native of Cocoa, Herold earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCF in 2008 and is currently pursuing a master’s degree in educational leadership from UCF. She is married to former UCF baseball player Mitch Herold.
LEARING SPECIALIST • ASSA
LISA MOSER THIRD YEAR AT UCF Lisa Moser has been with Academic Services for Student-Athletes since June of 2008 and works extensively with the UCF football program. Her duties include program coordination of the Mentor Program and coordination of testing and assessments. Prior to arriving at UCF, she completed a graduate assistantship with the University of Oklahoma in a similar role. Moser earned her bachelor’s degree and played on the equestrian team at Fresno State. Prior to Fresno, Moser attended Medicine Hat College in Alberta, Canada, where she played basketball for two years. 38
DR. JOHN C. HITT
PRESIDENT • 19TH YEAR AT UCF • AUSTIN COLLEGE, 1962 PERSONAL PROFILE
• • •
married to the former Martha Halsted for 48 years father of two and grandfather of two avid fisherman and golfer
GOAL DRIVEN LEADERSHIP Five Major Goals for UCF • offer the best undergraduate education in Florida • achieve international prominence in key programs of graduate study and research • provide an international focus to the curricula and research programs • become more inclusive and diverse • become America’s leading partnership university
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS A Leader in Higher Education • more than 18 years as president of the University of Central Florida o planned and won approval for a new college of medicine o doubled enrollment with enhanced academic quality o increased by sevenfold the number of doctoral degrees awarded each year o expanded research funding from $6.2 million to more than $121 million a year • more than 36 years of faculty and executive service in academic institutions o assistant professor of psychology at Tulane University o associate professor of psychology at Texas Christian University o associate dean of Texas Christian University o vice president of the Texas Christian University Research Foundation o dean of the Texas Christian University Graduate School o provost and vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology at Bradley University o vice president for academic affairs and professor of psychology at the University of Maine o interim president of the University of Maine Academic Credentials • graduated cum laude in 1962 from Austin College (B.A. psychology) • earned master’s degree in 1964 from Tulane University (M.S. physiological psychology) • earned doctoral degree from Tulane University in 1966 (Ph.D. physiological psychology) • graduate study supported by fellowships from the Danforth Foundation and the National Science Foundation Current Civic Service Engagements • member, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission Fundraising Campaign leadership cabinet • member, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center Orlando’s Council of Governors • member of the board, American Heart Association • member of the board, Central Florida Partnership • member of the board, Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission • member of the board, SunTrust • member of the board, United Arts of Central Florida • member, American College & University Presidents’ Climate Commitment Leadership Circle • chair, Conference USA Board of Directors Notable Past Service • two-term past-chair, State University Presidents Association • member, Florida Council of 100 • founder, Florida High Tech Corridor Council • two-term past-president, Florida Association of Colleges and Universities • chair, Governor’s Select Task Force on Healthcare Professional Liability Insurance • member, Florida Distance Learning Task Force • member, Orange County Chairman’s Transportation Commission • co-chair, Orange County Underage Drinking Task Force • member of the board, American Association of State Colleges and Universities • member of the board, EDUCAUSE • member of the board, Orlando Health • member of the board, Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce • member, NCAA Presidents’ Commission • board chair, Atlantic Sun Conference Selected Awards and Recognitions • Junior Achievement’s Spirit of Achievement Award, 2008 • multiple listings among the Orlando Sentinel’s 25 Most Powerful People in Central Florida and Orlando Magazine’s 50 Most Powerful People in Central Florida • Seminole Chamber of Commerce’s Lifetime Achievement Award, 2007 • Orlando Business Journal’s inaugural Legacy Award, 2006 • Orlando Sentinel’s Central Floridian of the Year, 2005 • Metro Orlando Economic Development Commission’s James B. Greene award, 2002 • Jewish National Fund’s Tree of Life award, 1999 • United Cerebral Palsy of Central Florida’s Jack Halloway Star of Gratitude, 1999 • Greater Orlando Chamber of Commerce’s John Young Award, 1998 39
KEITH R. TRIBBLE
DIRECTOR OF ATHLETICS • FIFTH YEAR AT UCF • FLORIDA, 1977 Upon his hiring on June 6, 2006, Keith Tribble publicly shared his two core goals in taking the director of athletics position with the University of Central Florida – “To graduate our studentathletes and compete for championships”. Since that day, everything UCF has planned and accomplished over the last four years has fit within that mission. Over three decades working in and around the collegiate community the consistency in Tribble’s background is his ability to build programs with strong foundations and dynamic infrastructure. Tribble, one of only seven African-American directors of athletics in the Football Bowl Subdivision, has quickly taken hold of the burgeoning UCF Athletics program’s blueprints and promised to lead with the two key principles that everyone associated with the program will also share. Most importantly, Tribble is committed to the concept of the well-rounded student-athlete, emphasizing the importance of their academic prowess off the field as well as championship results on. In addition, the other focal point of his concentration is the oversight of the construction, expansion and completion of the noted UCF Athletics Facilities Master Plan. When finished in 2020, the plan will have touched every-single area of the student-athletes’ well-being, including residential housing, academic and mentoring support facilities and state-of-the-art performance venues where UCF fans and supporters can cheer on the Knights. To date, Tribble has overseen $150 million in new construction and improvements to UCF athletic facilities since his arrival, and was recently approved to move forward with a $70 million facility development plan that will complete the UCF Athletics quadrant on the UCF campus. Through a renewed commitment, Tribble has been most proud of the record academic achievement of the UCF student-athletes during his first two years in Orlando. The Knights, for the fourth straight year in 2009-10, led all public institutions in Conference USA with the highest number of student-athletes on the C-USA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll with 221 representatives maintaining a 3.0 grade-point average or better. UCF’s 221 honorees represent approximately 60 percent of the school’s total student-athletes. For three straight years, through 2009, UCF student-athletes had placed the highest number on the league honor roll for all schools, public or private. UCF Athletics can now compete for C-USA championships in all sports, and has been progressing in this direction under Tribble since his first season at UCF. In recent years, the football program has played for two C-USA titles, winning in 2007. That same year, women’s soccer and softball, and members of women’s track and field, first claimed C-USA titles. In 2008-09, C-USA Coach of the Year Joi Williams led a young women’s basketball program to a memorable conference championship and NCAA Tournament invite. Men’s golf won its first C-USA championship, while finishing among the Top 10 teams nationally in 2009 and followed up in 2010 with another C-USA team title. Women’s track and field earned the school’s latest league title with a memorable finish at the 2010 C-USA Championship. Caryl Smith Gilbert’s feat earned her league coach of the year in 2010, a season following her 2009 NCAA regional coach of the year honors. Women’s soccer was ranked as high as No. 8 in the nation in 2009 and made its third consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance behind 2009 C-USA Coach of the Year Amanda Cromwell. In all, UCF Athletics has or will be competing in NCAA postseason tournaments in all of its programs in the coming seasons. Tribble attended the University of Florida where he played offensive guard for three bowl teams. He graduated in 1977 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism (public relations and marketing). Tribble and his wife, Terri, have a daughter, Carlyn, and a son, Kyle.
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DAVID CHAMBERS
EXECUTIVE ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTOR • FIFTH YEAR AT UCF • IOWA, 1983 David Chambers was named the executive associate athletics director for UCF Athletics on May 24, 2006. His primary responsibility with the UCFAA is the oversight of the Knights day-to-day organizational operations. In addition to serving as the staff administrator for the football program, Chambers also provides this role for men’s and women’s golf, softball, marketing and promotions, ticketing, communications and the compliance department. Prior to joining UCF, Chambers worked eight years in the Virginia Tech athletics department, the last five years as the senior associate athletics director for external affairs. In his role with Virginia Tech, Chambers oversaw the Hokies’ marketing and promotions, sports information and ticket operations as well as hokiesports.com and hokiesports - the newspaper. He also acted as the department’s liaison with ISP Sports, the exclusive multi-media and advertising rights holder for Virginia Tech athletics. In addition to his external duties, Chambers worked with the Virginia Tech Athletic Fund, the Hokies’ fund-raising arm, as well as assisting athletics director Jim Weaver with football scheduling.
Prior to his tenure at Virginia Tech, Chambers worked at UNLV for six years beginning as the Rebels’ director of NCAA compliance in 1992 before his promotion to associate director of athletics from 1993-98. In his later role with UNLV, Chambers oversaw the day-to-day operations of football and men’s and women’s basketball. He also accounted for the scheduling of the football and basketball programs. In addition, he supervised the department’s three assistant athletics directors who oversaw UNLV’s internal affairs and 15 varsity sports. From 1990-92, Chambers was one of 12 legislative assistants with the NCAA, providing written and oral interpretations of the organization’s legislation for member institutions. In this role, he also served as the NCAA liaison to the Big 10 Conference. He also provided rules-education seminars for various coaching organizations, served as the primary administrator for waivers of NCAA legislation and prepared litigation summaries for the national office. Chambers was a former college quarterback at Iowa and later switched to the defensive side of the ball, lettering as a strong safety in 1982 and was a starter in 1983. Under legendary head coach Hayden Fry, he was part of three postseason bowl squads: the Rose Bowl in January of 1982, as well
JEFF ULMER
SR. ASSOCIATE AD/DEVELOPMENT Jeff Ulmer was hired as the senior associate athletics director for development in July of 2009. Ulmer brings more than 20 years of institutional advancement experience from tenures at three prestigious Southeastern Conference schools. Most recently, Ulmer was at the University of Mississippi where he served as President of the UMAA Foundation. At UCF, Ulmer is the senior administrator overseeing all areas of athletics development; major gifts, fundraising and the Golden Knights Club, plus UCF’s athletics ticket sales operation. At Ole Miss, Ulmer oversaw the UMAA Foundation’s development team, with a primary mission of reaching out to alumni, donors and fans across the state of Mississippi and around the country in an effort to secure private resources for capital projects and scholarship support. Ulmer’s goal as president of the UMAA Foundation was to get out on the road and meet with the people who have supported Ole Miss throughout the years and develop a stronger network of partners, while raising the visibility of Rebel athletics throughout the state and beyond. In 2003, Ulmer was lured away from his previous employment at the University of Florida to become the assistant dean for development for Vanderbilt University’s Law School where he guided the law school through a $28 million capital campaign. Three years later he was named executive director of development for Vanderbilt’s National Commodore Club, the fund raising arm of Vanderbilt athletics. Ulmer began his development career in 1989 at UF, where he served four colleges and participated in two capital campaigns over a 15-year period. Ulmer, who grew up in Gainesville and graduated from UF, worked for one season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers strength and conditioning staff after serving in a similar capacity as a student assistant in the Gator Strength Complex.
as the Peach and the Gator Bowls in December of 1982 and 1983. He received the Football Coaches Appreciation Award in 1981 and was named to Iowa’s All-Time Strength and Conditioning Team. He played with current Oklahoma head coach Bob Stoops and was not only coached by Fry, but also Kansas State head coach Bill Snyder and Barry Alvarez, the former Wisconsin Badgers head coach and the school’s current director of athletics. Chambers earned a bachelor’s of business administration in 1983, specializing in industrial relations. He was named to the Big 10 All-Academic team in 1983 and received the prestigious Forest Evashevski Scholarship Achievement Award, as well as the R.E. Romey Memorial Scholarship and the Ben Trickey Memorial Scholarship. He then received a master’s of arts degree in educational measurement and statistics from Iowa in 1985 while working as a graduate assistant. He spent the next year as an administrative assistant with the school’s athletics department, assisting with Big 10 and NCAA rules compliance and directing the senior student-athlete employment program. An attorney, Chambers attended law school at Wake Forest. He received his juris doctorate in 1989 and became licensed to practice law in North Carolina.
DAVID HANSEN
SR. ASSOCIATE AD/INTERNAL RELATIONS David Hansen joined UCF Athletics as its senior associate athletics director for internal operations in June 2006. Hansen’s primary duties include overseeing all facility development and home event operations, while administering four Knights athletics teams and two support units. Hansen directs the athletics facility development process and serves on UCF’s Master Planning Committee. Since 2006, UCF Athletics has completed building projects totaling over $63 million. The Athletics Facility Plan calls for another $70 million in construction during the next 10 years. He also serves as the sport administrator for the Knights’ men’s basketball, baseball and men’s and women’s soccer programs. Hansen oversees the strength & conditioning and equipment support units. Prior to joining the UCF staff, Hansen served as the deputy director of athletics at the University of Southern Mississippi. Hansen was the Golden Eagles’ chief operating and financial officer and also directed all facility projects while overseeing the men’s basketball and baseball programs. Hansen arrived at Southern Miss in 1999 as the school’s associate athletics director for internal affairs. In 2003, he was promoted to senior associate athletics director and two years later became the Golden Eagles’ deputy director of athletics. Before moving to Southern Miss, Hansen worked at the University of Louisiana at Monroe as the assistant athletics director for internal operations. He originally joined the ULM staff in 1994 as the director of facilities & football operations. A native of Gainesville and a 1992 graduate of the University of Florida, he worked at his alma mater as assistant football equipment manager from 1992-94. In 1990, Hansen spent time as an operations/sales assistant for the Blockbuster Bowl in South Florida. Hansen and his wife Trudy have three children, Kevin, Casey and Brian. 41
JESSICA REO SR. ASSOCIATE AD STUDENT SERVICES
Jessica Reo was promoted to senior associate athletics director for student services in July of 2008. Additionally, Reo still serves as senior woman administrator (SWA), a role she took over in the summer of 2006. The role of SWA is an important one in college athletics, especially in the governance
structure of Conference USA. In that role, Reo represents UCF in conference dealings pertaining to scheduling, championships and legislation. Reo also serves as UCF’s liaison for gender equity and Title IX issues. In addition, Reo serves as administrator of several UCF teams, including rowing, women’s cross country, men’s and women’s tennis, volleyball, women’s basketball and track and field. Prior to coming to UCF, she spent seven years at the University of Miami. There she served as a compliance coordinator for rules education and documentation for three years and spent four years as a compliance coordinator for athletic services. Reo graduated with a bachelor’s degree in
English from Florida State in 1993. During her undergraduate years she worked in the Seminoles’ sports information office and then completed a media relations internship with the Atlantic Coast Conference office after graduation. She spent two years as an assistant sports information director at Clemson University before taking a job in compliance at Miami. Reo earned a master’s degree in sports and fitness from UCF in May of 2010.
ASSOCIATE ATHLETICS DIRECTORS
JOE HORNSTEIN Communications
JOE SIMON Facilities & Operations
BRAD STRICKLIN Business Chief Financial Officer
ASSISTANT ATHLETICS DIRECTORS
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PHIL ASHLER Ticket & Sales Operations
LISA DANNER Compliance
RAELYNN McAFEE Marketing and Promotions
BRIAN REED Human Resources and Risk Management