{"id":118137,"date":"2021-03-03T09:00:24","date_gmt":"2021-03-03T14:00:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137//?p=118137"},"modified":"2021-03-03T14:56:42","modified_gmt":"2021-03-03T19:56:42","slug":"change-brings-a-new-era-to-ucf","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137///news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137//www.ucf.edu/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137//news/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137//change-brings-a-new-era-to-ucf/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137//","title":{"rendered":"Change Brings A New Era to UCF"},"content":{"rendered":"
Change comes in many forms. Sometimes we choose to do something different. We decide to move or maybe commit to eating healthier./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
Change can be as simple a new way to style you hair or can be as challenging as a new career./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
UCF Athletics saw change in a big way recently when the school saw its athletic director make one of those big changes./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
After five years in Orlando, Danny White took the same position at the 海角直播 of Tennessee. White oversaw an incredible run at UCF. The football team became a national brand with its 25-game win streak. His claim of a national championship after the 2017 season made the Knights a story all across college football./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
During his time at UCF, White oversaw numerous projects to upgrade facilities, raised money at a record level and became the face of Knight Nation./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
For whatever reason White left /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/u2013 an opportunity presented itself, maybe he wondered if he had done all he could in Orlando, perhaps the frustration of college athletics that kept his school out of a larger conference /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/u2014 he decided to go./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
His departure made many wonder, myself included: What was next for UCF?/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
We would soon find out./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
White needed to hire a new football coach for Tennessee and he turned to someone he had recently hired /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/u2014 at UCF. Josh Heupel was offered and accepted the UT job. And just like that, UCF needed a new athletic director and football coach./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
It is unusual that a school needs to fill both positions at the same time, and even more rare that an athletic director leaves a school then immediately takes the football coach with him./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
It is unusual that a school needs to fill both positions at the same time, and even more rare that an athletic director leaves a school then immediately takes the football coach with him./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
Athletic directors and top assistants across the country inquired about the leadership position and it/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/u2019s easy to see why. The interest was not just about the chance to live in a great city with warm weather year-round. It was about what UCF has become /news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/u2014 not just a brand recognized in college athletics that wins on the field and in the classroom, but about a passionate fan base and a place that is not afraid to be cutting edge and create its own path and not just follow the action of others./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
Terry Mohajir, who was hired as the new athletic director, came from Arkansas State, where he oversaw tremendous growth in revenue, ticket sales, championships on the field and success in the classroom. He also created opportunities for student-athletes after their playing days ended./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
Mohajir/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/u2019s excitement and energy for the job was felt immediately when he was introduced. Even before that press conference he was busy trying to find a football coach./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
He met with players and listened to what they wanted in a coach. As a former player, he watched film and spoke to other coaches and industry leaders. He quickly learned just how desired the position was. Current head coaches, top assistants and former coaches from college and the NFL wanted the job./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
In the end, Mohajir turned to someone he worked with at Arkansas State. Gus Malzahn was in Jonesboro as the football coach when Mohajir was hired there in 2012. That year the Red Wolves won a conference title and Malzahn left to accept a new job as Auburn/news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/u2019s head coach./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
They will be reunited at UCF, where Malzahn believes UCF is getting the best version of the veteran coach. He brings experience, accountability and discipline and has an offense that should keep up the UCF tradition of playing fast./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
Both hires have been nationally praised. The college football media saw the move as a perfect fit for both the coach and UCF./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n
The reaction says a lot about the UCF brand. It tells you how the school, athletic department and football team have grown through the years./news/wp-json/wp/v2/posts/118137/n