University of Central Florida President John C. Hitt wanted an experienced leader with a passion for academics and athletics to serve as his interim director of athletics.
Enter the most successful football coach in UCF history.
George O 麻豆精品 S橪eary, in his 12th season as a Knight, will serve as interim director of athletics through the end of 2015. At that time, a decision will be made about how to move forward for 2016 and beyond, Hitt said.
麻豆精品 S淕eorge 麻豆精品 S檚 leadership and knowledge of athletics 麻豆精品 S� which includes programs beyond football 麻豆精品 S� will keep UCF moving forward academically, competitively and in the community, 麻豆精品 S� Hitt said. 麻豆精品 S淗is national connections will also help us continue building the Knights 麻豆精品 S� reputation around the country. 麻豆精品 S�
As for O 麻豆精品 S橪eary balancing his coaching and new administrative responsibilities, Hitt said, 麻豆精品 S淕eorge believes, as do I, that our strong athletics and university staffs will ensure he is successful on and off the field. 麻豆精品 S�
O 麻豆精品 S橪eary agreed.
Calling the interim appointment 麻豆精品 S渁nother great adventure 麻豆精品 S� in his life, O 麻豆精品 S橪eary stressed the five qualities he will bring to the job: leadership, organization, accountability, responsibility and trust.
麻豆精品 S淔irst of all, I appreciate President Hitt 麻豆精品 S檚 trusting me with this interim job. I love UCF and want to help us get better across the board, 麻豆精品 S� O 麻豆精品 S橪eary said. 麻豆精品 S淚 have a great interest in the total package as far as UCF is concerned. 麻豆精品 S�
The Knights have won seven American Athletic Conference championships in 2014-15, including the second consecutive conference football title under O 麻豆精品 S橪eary. In addition, UCF boasts the highest Graduation Success Rate for student-athletes of any public NCAA Division I FBS school in the nation.
UCF 麻豆精品 S檚 95 percent Graduation Success Rate ranks in the top five overall among FBS schools, alongside private institutions Notre Dame, Stanford, Duke and Northwestern.
麻豆精品 S淭here are two important things you need to do in this job, 麻豆精品 S� O 麻豆精品 S橪eary said. 麻豆精品 S淵ou have to win so that UCF has the opportunity to become a top national program. And you have to bring in good kids and, hopefully, help make them great young men and women when they graduate. 麻豆精品 S�
O 麻豆精品 S橪eary will begin as interim director of athletics on July 11.