Everybody loves a sequel, and it seems that UCF does, too.
The college is bringing again Scott Frost as its subsequent soccer coach, signing him to a 5-year deal that runs by 2029.
Frost, 49, reunites with this system he led to new heights in 2016-19, together with a nationwide championship based mostly on the Colley Matrix in 2017, earlier than leaving to return residence to teach at Nebraska.
He replaces Gus Malzahn, who resigned on Nov. 30 after 4 seasons in control of the Knights.
“Today marks an thrilling reunion for UCF Football as we welcome again Scott Frost, a coach who ignites the spirit and fervour of Knight Nation,” UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir stated in a press release. “Scott’s love for his gamers, alongside along with his management, enthusiasm and imaginative and prescient had been pivotal in making the choice to carry him again to UCF. Throughout this nationwide search, his ardour for UCF was clear. I imagine nobody needed to guide our program greater than Scott.”
His hiring ends a training search that started in earnest following Malzahn’s departure. The 59-year-old compiled a 28-24 total report at UCF however had misplaced eight of his final 9 video games and didn’t qualify for a bowl sport for the primary time since 2015.
He was named Florida State’s new offensive coordinator on Monday.
News of the doable transfer has excited the fanbase, who watched Frost lead UCF to a 19-7 report in two seasons, together with a 12-4 mark and an American Athletic Conference championship in 2017.
Frost left this system in 2018 to return residence and coach his alma mater, however he was by no means capable of seize his success at UCF and was fired after 5 seasons with the Cornhuskers in 2022.
Yes, UCF, carry again Scott Frost — and McKenzie Milton! | Commentary
During his time at Nebraska, the group by no means had a profitable report. It completed with a 16-31 mark, together with a 10-26 mark within the Big Ten.
The Los Angeles Rams employed him as an assistant to special-teams coach Chase Blackburn, however he would additionally work with the offense and protection.
Frost takes over a UCF program that’s a lot totally different from the one he had when he arrived in 2016.
The Knights are set to enter Year 3 of the Big 12 and have labored to develop their athletic finances to contend in a Power Four convention. The division has been working with a partial income share from the convention over the previous two seasons — about $19 million yearly — however will start receiving a full share of about $38-$40 million a yr beginning in 2025.
The Mission IV fundraising mission has helped the division progress on a number of facility upgrades, together with a brand new $90 million renovation of the Roth Tower linked to FBC Mortgage Stadium. That mission, half of a bigger soccer campus, has been funded by Orange County’s Tourism Development Tax.
LETS GOOOOOO!!! 🥶 #GKCO
— DYLAN RIZK (@dylanrizk11) December 7, 2024
Fundraising continues for the Hagle Football Gateway mission, which is a part of the proposed soccer campus. It will characteristic the Taylor A. Gerring Football Center, which is able to home the soccer administration and coaches.
The Gateway will even characteristic Nicholson Plaza and McNamara Cove, offering athletes with a restoration river and hydrotherapy.
Rather a lot has occurred with Name, Image and Likeness within the two seasons that Frost has been out of faculty soccer, together with the growth of the one-time switch window.
UCF has labored tirelessly to develop its NIL finances however nonetheless must meet up with the opposite P4 applications within the Big 12 Conference.
Then there are the challenges, with the upcoming $2.6 billion settlement from the NCAA v. House lawsuit set to be finalized in April and revenue-sharing taking form. The Knights are in a a lot better place now than as members of the AAC, due to the elevated income stream from the Big 12.
On the sector, Frost’s up-tempo no-huddle offense was all the trend on the time in 2017, with UCF ending close to the highest of the nation in scoring offense (48.2 factors per sport), complete offense (530 yards per sport) and passing offense (331 ypg.).
He by no means achieved that very same form of success at Nebraska, the place the Cornhuskers completed close to the underside of the Big Ten in scoring and complete offense.
UCF completed this previous season ranked forty seventh in scoring (30.4 ppg.) and sixteenth in complete offense (447.8 ypg.). The Knights had been 98th in passing, averaging lower than 200 yards per sport in 2024.
Quarterback Dylan Rizk was one of many first gamers to react to the information, posting, “Let GOOOOOO!!! 🥶 #GKCO.”
Matt Murschel may be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com
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