The UCF football coaching picture continues to be shaken up.
First, there was the resignation of UCF wide receivers coach David Kelly following the NCAA investigation into the school’s recruiting practices.
Now, after a disappointing 5-7 season, UCF head coach George O’Leary has fired two assistant coaches and one staff member.
Defensive coordinator John Skladany, linebackers coach Al Seamonson and director of player personnel Albert Boone were told they would not be retained for the 2012 season, according to a press release from the UCF Athletics Association Sunday.
The coaches all had one-year contracts that expired at the end of the season.
The Knights suffered from inconsistency throughout the year, and it was evident that changes would be made once the season was finished.
However, the firing of Skladany comes as somewhat of a surprise after the UCF defense finished as the best in Conference-USA, as well as one of the top defenses in the country.
The Knights defense was first in C-USA in scoring defense (18.3 points per game), yards per game (303.3/game), passing yards (194.5/game) and rushing yards (108.8/game). They finished in the top 25 in the nation in those categories as well, including No. 11 in total defense.
Still, Coach O’Leary often voiced his disappointment with the defense missing tackles and a failure to make key stops throughout the season, which played a huge role in the Knights losing six of seven games by a touchdown score or less.
“It was a surprise to me,” Boone said in a statement from the Orlando Sentinel. “I think when you look back, our defense played well. I don’t think our defense lost games for us. I don’t think anyone deserved to get let go.”
UCF takes pride in its defense, continually finishing in the top of C-USA in most defensive categories over the past five years, which means a strong replacement will be needed for Skladany.
After Illinois coach Ron Zook was fired Sunday, there has already been murmurs of the former Florida Gators as a potential replacement in the defensive coordinator role.
Zook, who helped lead Illinois to a 6-0 start this season before losing the final six games, has strong ties in the Florida recruiting scene after two stints with the Gators.
With the resignation of David Kelly, the Knights have lost a significant part of their recruiting team and will need someone to fill that void. The NCAA scandal and subsequent resignations of Kelly and athletic director Keith Tribble has the football program in question right now.
However, Boone thinks the program will be okay.
“The season obviously didn’t end well,” Boone said in a statement from the Orlando Sentinel. “I have a feeling that they’ve got a good group of kids that want to see UCF be successful, and I know they’ll do everything they can to make that happen.”
