A Look Inside: The UCF Athletics Staff and Financial Success
UCF's athletics department has experienced remarkable growth and financial success, marking a significant chapter in its history, especially after joining the Big 12 Conference. This article delves into the financial achievements of the department, highlights key personnel, and examines the factors contributing to the overall success of UCF Athletics.
Record-Breaking Revenue and Financial Surplus
In the fiscal year 2025, UCF's athletics department reported a record $108.89 million in revenue, accompanied by $103.62 million in expenses. This resulted in a surplus of $5.27 million. While this surplus is subject to presentation and classification differences, as noted by a university spokesman, the figures underscore the financial strides made by the department. This represents a substantial increase from 2024, when the department reported $98.16 million in revenue and $97.45 million in expenses.
Contributions and Football Program's Profitability
A major driver of this financial upswing was the increase in contributions, which skyrocketed by over 80% to $27.9 million, up from $15.4 million in 2024. A significant portion ($23.8 million) of these contributions directly benefited UCF’s football program, including the Roth Tower construction project.
The football program itself generated the largest profit at nearly $21.5 million, solidifying its position as a key revenue source for UCF Athletics. Ticket sales revenue also saw a boost, increasing by approximately 9.6% ($739,132), and the school received nearly $2 million more in distributions from the Big 12. UCF becomes a full-share member for the first time starting in the 2026-27 season. According to the report, nine of the school's 14 scholarship teams had operating revenue that exceeded operating expenses.
Terry Mohajir's Leadership and Fundraising Efforts
Terry Mohajir, UCF’s vice president and director of athletics, credited the increase in revenue to the "excellent work and efforts by our fundraising and ChargeOn (Fund) teams.” His leadership has been instrumental in driving the financial growth and success of the athletics department.
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Coaching Salaries and Expenses
Coaching salaries, including benefits and bonuses, topped the list of expenses for UCF’s athletics department, totaling $19.2 million. This figure represents an increase of just over 9% from the previous year, reflecting the investment in coaching talent.
Key Staff Member: Tim Allen
Tim Allen joined the UCF Athletics administrative staff in September 2021 as executive associate athletics director and serves as the sport administrator for baseball, men's and women's golf and rowing, while also working with the department's sports operations. Allen's extensive experience in college athletics administration has been a valuable asset to UCF.
Allen's Background and Experience
Prior to UCF, Allen spent 12 seasons as director of football operations at Michigan State, working alongside College Football Hall of Famer Mark Dantonio. He was promoted to assistant athletic director in 2015 and originally joined the Spartan staff in June 2008.
During his time at Michigan State, Allen oversaw day-to-day operations and the budget of the football program. His duties included coordinating team travel, bowl game preparations, game management, future scheduling, and facility updates. He also oversaw the football operations staff, graduate assistants, interns, and all student employees. Allen was named to the Rose Bowl Advisory Committee in 2018.
Under Allen's watch, the Spartans won three Big Ten Championships (2010, 2013, 2015) and played in 11 bowl games, including three consecutive Bowl Championship Series/New Year’s Six appearances (2014 Rose, 2015 Cotton, 2015 College Football Playoff Semifinal at Cotton Bowl). In addition, the Spartans finished in the final national polls seven times.
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Allen's coaching and administrative background extends further back, with 19 seasons on Glen Mason’s football coaching staff at Kansas (1988-96) and Minnesota (1997-2006). He came to Michigan State following 10 years at Minnesota where he served as assistant athletics director for football operations. During his tenure, the Golden Gophers made seven postseason bowl appearances, including five straight trips from 2002-06, and finished ranked among the nation’s top 25 on two occasions (17th by coaches, 18th by Associated Press in 1999; 2003: 17th by coaches, 20th by AP in 2003). From 1999-2005, Minnesota averaged better than seven wins per season (50 total).
Before going to Minnesota, Allen worked 11 seasons at Kansas--beginning as a defensive graduate assistant in 1986 and then being promoted to administrative assistant for football operations in 1987. He was retained when Mason became the Jayhawks’ head coach in 1988. During his stint in Lawrence, Allen was part of one of college football’s most dramatic turnarounds as Kansas recorded a pair of Aloha Bowl victories (1992 over BYU, 1995 over UCLA) and two top-25 finishes (22nd by AP, 23rd by United Press International in 1992; 9th by AP, 10th by UPI in 1995). While at Kansas, he served as the academic liaison for football and organized the on-campus recruiting efforts in addition to his other football operations duties. From 1993-96 he worked on the Jayhawk athletic staff alongside current UCF vice president and director of athletics Terry Mohajir. Allen has been part of 20 different football teams that appeared in postseason bowl games.
From 1982-85, he worked as an assistant football coach (wide receivers, 1982-83; defensive backs/special teams coordinator, 1984-85) and admissions counselor at his alma mater, Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas. In October 2003, Allen and members of the 1984 Threshers football team that posted an undefeated regular-season record (9-0) en route to winning the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference Championship and finishing second in the NAIA Division II final rankings were inducted into the Bethel College Athletic Hall of Fame.
A native of Seneca, Kansas, Allen earned two letters as a wide receiver and was elected team captain as a senior at Bethel College.
Other Staff
DeSalvo returned to Orlando in the fall of 2011 after graduating from UCF in 2009. During his stint in athletics communications from 2011-13, the Jacksonville, Florida, native served as the main contact for baseball, volleyball, rowing, women's golf and assisted with football. He was named the American Volleyball Coaches Association Midwest Region Sports Information Director of the Year for the 2011-12 season. Before returning to UCF, DeSalvo earned his M.A. in applied communication in 2011 from Northern Arizona in Flagstaff, while serving as a graduate assistant in the media relations office.
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Ticketing and Fan Engagement
UCF Athletics offers a variety of ticketing options and experiences for fans, including:
- Football: 2026 Season Ticket Information, New Roth Tower, Single Game Tickets, Season Parking, Single Game Parking, View From My Seats, Schedule
- Men's Basketball: Single Game Tickets, Single Game Parking, Group Ticket Experiences, View From My Seats, Schedule
- Baseball: Season Tickets, Anytime Season Tickets, Season Parking, Single Game Tickets, Single Game Parking, Group Ticket Experiences, Schedule
- Volleyball: Season Tickets, Single Game Tickets, Group Ticket Experiences, Schedule
- Women's Basketball: Season Tickets, Single Game Tickets, Group Ticket Experiences, Schedule
- Softball: Season Tickets, Single Game Tickets, Group Ticket Experiences, Schedule
- Men's Soccer: Season Tickets, Single Game Tickets, Group Tickets, Schedule
Additional resources for fans include:
- Manage My Tickets
- Learn Digital Ticketing
- Student Tickets
- Ticket Policies FAQ
- Purchase a Gift Card
tags: #ucf #athletics #staff #directory
