In what’s been an already eventful offseason for the UCF football team, George O’Leary announced Monday the hiring of two new personnel to the football staff.
Drew Hughes was named the Knights’ new director of player personnel, while former UCF player Paul Carrington was named the new operations assistant.
Hughes spent the last five seasons with SEC powerhouse Alabama, who will be competing in this year’s BCS National Championship game, as a recruiting specialist for head coach Nick Saban.
He recently graduated from the University of Alabama, where he garnered experience helping in the daily operations for the Nick Saban Summer Camps from 2008-11, and spent time on the football video staff for four years.
“I am excited about the opportunity to join the staff here at UCF,” Hughes said in a press release from UCFAthletics.com. “I’m thankful to coach Saban and his staff at the University of Alabama for the opportunity to work and learn under them for five seasons. I look forward to working for coach O’Leary and the UCF staff as we continue the process of building champions both on and off the field.”
Carrington returns to his alma mater after playing in 46 career games with the Knights as a defensive end. He finished with 30.5 tackles for loss, 16.0 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, eight pass break-ups and an interception.
He went undrafted in 2006, but was signed by the Atlanta Falcons, where he appeared in 15 games as a rookie. He recorded 37 tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble.
“It feels amazing to be back on campus, back around football and back around the Black and Gold,” Carrington said in a press release from UCFAthletics.com. “This is where I belong. I’m nothing but grateful to coach O’Leary for allowing me the opportunity to start my coaching career. I’m happy to be back.”
Just a few days after the ending of a disappointing season for the Knights, Coach O’Leary fired defensive coordinator John Skladany, linebackers coach Al Seamonson and director of player personnel Albert Boone.
The additions of Hughes and Carrington signal the continuing changes for the UCF football team as they look to improve for next season.
