Official UCF Sports Thread - Basketball: NIT Bid? Football: Spring Practice Underway

[craig01]

I was on the Lebby bandwagon for continuity reasons, but really think the GM hire will ascend UCF’s national brand to new heights.

Very impressed so far.

[dsg2003mach1]

Travis Williams on board as new DC

[UCF]

There's a rumor going around that UCF is going to hire Herb Hand as OL Coach.

https://twitter.com/CoachHand

TONS of experience at the P5 level and has worked with Gus at multiple spots.

2007–2008 Tulsa (co-OC/OL) - with Malzahn
2009 Tulsa (AHC/OC/OL)
2010–2012 Vanderbilt (OL)
2013 Vanderbilt (RGC/OL)
2014–2015 Penn State (RGC/OL)
2016–2017 Auburn (OL) - for Malzahn
2018–2020 Texas (co-OC/OL)

With a resume like this I’m surprised he ended up at Charlotte.

[Knightro]

With a resume like this I’m surprised he ended up at Charlotte.

He got let go relatively late in the process. Tom Herman wasn't fired by Texas until January 2nd and Steve Sarkisian didn't hire a new OL coach until January 14th.

Most P5 jobs have full staffs by mid January.

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

Comments like this make me like the guy a bit more.

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

[Knightro]

Read on Twitter

New Co-DC/Secondary Coach. Tons of experience. Feels like more of a teacher than a recruiter, but you never know with these things.

He made $450K last year at Mizzou.

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

For those worried about DG and the coaching change...

[Kent]

Read on Twitter

For those worried about DG and the coaching change...

This is BIG.

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

Another coach announced

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

For those worried about DG and the coaching change...

This is BIG.

Here’s hoping he liked the conversation and sticks around.

[Knightro]

Assistant Salaries
Travis Williams: 600K
David Gibbs: 450K
Herb Hand: 300K

Malzahn's original contract called for 3.3M for assistant coaches. Would leave 1.95M for the remaining 7 assistants.

I heard a rumor, but haven't been able to confirm, that Gus asked for an additional 1M his assistants which would make a lot of sense.

[UCF]

To be top 10 you have to have the staff to support that level of expectations. The money from Tennessee will be spent quick (if it’s not already all gone already).

[UCF]

Read on Twitter

[UCF]

Have they hired a strength coach yet?

[Knightro]

Have they hired a strength coach yet?

The rumor is Ryan Russell. Malzahn's long time strength and conditioning coach from Arkansas State and Auburn.

https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/ryan-russell/494

[UCF]

That would make sense. Is he still at Auburn?

[Knightro]

That would make sense. Is he still at Auburn?

He was let go in January as part of Auburn's coaching change. So he's available to be hired.

Harsin hired this guy to replace him. https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jeff-pitman/3401

[UCF]

That would make sense. Is he still at Auburn?

He was let go in January as part of Auburn's coaching change. So he's available to be hired.

Harsin hired this guy to replace him. https://auburntigers.com/sports/football/roster/coaches/jeff-pitman/3401

Ah, that makes more sense. It’s weird these programs leave their bio pages as active when they are no longer employed.

[Knightro]

Turns out I got bad information.

Read on Twitter

New strength coach has been hired and it’s not the guy I originally said.