Everyone loves a sequel, and it seems that UCF does, too.
In keeping with sources near the state of affairs, the college is bringing again Scott Frost as its subsequent soccer coach.
Frost, 49, could be reunited 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 educate at Nebraska.
He would exchange Gus Malzahn, who resigned on Nov. 30 after 4 seasons in control of the Knights.
His hiring would finish 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.
Information of the potential 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 Convention championship in 2017.
Frost left this system in 2018 to return residence and coach his alma mater, however he was by no means in a position to seize his success at UCF and was fired after 5 seasons with the Cornhuskers in 2022.
Sure, UCF, convey again Scott Frost — and McKenzie Milton! | Commentary
Throughout his time at Nebraska, the staff by no means had a successful report. It completed with a 16-31 report, together with a 10-26 mark within the Large Ten.
The Los Angeles Rams employed him as an assistant to particular groups 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 12 months 3 of the Large 12 and have labored to develop their athletic funds to contend in a Energy 4 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 undertaking has helped the division progress on a number of facility upgrades, together with a brand new $90 million renovation of the Roth Tower related to FBC Mortgage Stadium. That undertaking, half of a bigger soccer campus, has been funded by Orange County’s Tourism Growth Tax.
LETS GOOOOOO!!! 🥶 #GKCO
— DYLAN RIZK (@dylanrizk11) December 7, 2024
Fundraising continues for the Hagle Soccer Gateway undertaking, which is a part of the proposed soccer campus. It’ll characteristic the Taylor A. Gerring Soccer Middle, 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.
Quite a bit has occurred with title, picture 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 funds however nonetheless must meet up with the opposite P4 packages within the Large 12 Convention.
Then there are the challenges, with the approaching $2.6 billion settlement from the NCAA v. Home lawsuit set to be finalized in April and revenue-sharing taking form. The Knights are in a significantly better place now than as members of the AAC, due to the elevated income stream from the Large 12.
On the sector, Frost’s up-tempo, no-huddle offense was all the fad on the time in 2017, with UCF ending close to the highest of the nation in scoring offense (48.2 factors per sport), whole offense (530 yards per sport) and passing offense (331 ypg.).
He by no means achieved that very same type of success at Nebraska, the place the Cornhuskers completed close to the underside of the Large Ten in scoring and whole offense.
UCF completed this previous season ranked forty seventh in scoring (30.4 ppg.) and sixteenth in whole 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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