UCF linebackers coach Tyson Summers has been promoted to be the Knight’s defensive coordinator under head coach George O’Leary.
Summers served as the interim defensive coordinator this summer and handled the defensive play calling during the Fiesta Bowl win against Baylor. When previous defensive coordinator Jim Fleming left to take the head coaching job at Rhode Island, Paul Ferraro was hired as defensive coordinator and left the team before the Spring Game.
Summers was hired as a defensive assistant coach at UCF in January 2012 and was named the linebackers coach a few months after that. Under Summer’s tenure, he coached UCF linebacker Terrance Plummer to winning the Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP.
The Knights have not been ranked outside of the top 50 in total defense since 2006 and were ranked 29th this past season.
