Just a month ago, the UCF football program hired Ted Roof to be the team’s new defensive coordinator.
A mere 33 days later, he’s leaving the Knights and taking the same position with the Penn State Nittany Lions.
UCF coach George O’Leary wasn’t too surprised by Roof’s abrupt departure.
“When I learned Bill O’Brien was going to be named Penn State’s head coach, I knew Ted Roof might get the job as his defensive coordinator,” O’Leary said in a press release from UCFAthletics.com. “O’Brien and Roof are best friends and their families are very close as well. I have no doubt they will have a lot of success with Penn State.”
Roof, who served under O’Leary at Georgia Tech, was introduced as part of the UCF family on Dec. 8, 2011, and said that he was excited to be a part of the Knights.
Roof also said that he would help the team with recruiting before National Signing Day on Feb. 1. Last season, Roof served as the defensive coordinator for Auburn’s National Championship team, but the defense struggled throughout the season.
Auburn’s defense was ranked 11th in the SEC in both scoring defense and total yards allowed.
Penn State University is expected to officially introduce Roof as the team’s defensive coordinator later this week.
The UCF defense was one of the top five defenses in the nation through the first four games of the season, then fell off the radar once conference play started.
John Skladany served as the UCF defensive coordinator last season, but was fired by UCF head coach George O’Leary just days after this season ended.
Roof was expected to strengthen the UCF defense and fix some of mistakes that plagued the team last year. Now O’Leary and the Knights will have to search for replacing another staff member.
