The University of Central Florida hired former Florida defensive coordinator Randy Shannon, whose contract details and salary are emerging this New Year.
Former UCF head coach Scott Frost led the Knights to its greatest achievement in program history, ending a Cinderella season in Orlando with his departure to Nebraska, his alma mater, with the entire UCF football staff in tow.
Director of Athletics Danny White quickly moved to Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Heupel – completely under the radar. Heupel and White then moved to Shannon, who was fired from Florida after the Gators had a freefall within their program.
Randy Shannon’s three-year deal with the Knights includes a $300,000 salary per year from UCF and the rest (about $2.2 million from UF in buyout pay over two years) through January 31, 2020.
After that date, Shannon’s pay will increase to $1 million from UCF with a $300,000 retention pay in February 2020.
This will put the defensive coordinator at $800,000 more than the next-highest-paid assistant at a ‘Group of 5’ school, with Colorado State Offensive Coordinator Will Friend currently at $540,000 this season.
White and the athletic department fundraised more than $5 million in donations as the 2017 season progressed with the initial intent to keep Scott Frost from leaving to another institution offering a higher pay. Now that fund will be used to keep the current staff. UCF has hinted at Heupel’s retention with the use of his commitment to ‘sustained success’ in their announcement of the hire.
The UCF Excellence Fund intends to rival tradition ‘Power 5’ programs in salary, arguing that the Knights are in a Power 6 conference and deserve the same rewards the P5 enjoy year-after-year.
Stay tuned with Knight News for more UCF Football news.
