Potential Candidates for UCF Head Coach

With the Gus Malzahn Era concluding, the UCF Knights are embarking on their fourth head coach search in the past decade. Several FBS head coaches have either been fired or have left for other jobs this season. There have been four American Conference head coaches hired by Power Four teams. Some coaching hires take a while to materialize. This article explores potential candidates for the job, considering familiar names, up-and-coming Group of Five (G5) head coaches, and promising coordinators.

Familiar Faces

Tim Harris Jr. - UCF Offensive Coordinator

If UCF aims for continuity, current Offensive Coordinator Tim Harris Jr. emerges as a strong internal candidate. As the son of legendary high school coach Tim “Ice” Harris Sr., Harris Jr. has established his own reputation, particularly as a recruiter. His familiarity with UCF, gained through two stints under Gus Malzahn, and his ability to identify offensive talent make him an attractive option for a fanbase eager for an explosive offensive scheme.

Scott Frost - Former UCF and Nebraska Head Coach

A return of Scott Frost to Orlando would be a nostalgic hire. UCF wants an offensive mind, and Frost is clearly that. He’s also obviously familiar with Orlando and UCF as an institution. It’s also clear that Frost wanted to stay in Orlando the first time around, but it was his alma mater Nebraska who called - likely the only school that could have pulled him out of UCF. A chance to come back to the place he fell in love with at his first head coaching job - and agonized over leaving - could be appealing indeed. And of course he would ignite the fan base, given his miraculous turnaround of the program from winless to national champion seven years ago.

Jim Mora - UConn Head Coach

Jim Mora has built a compelling case for himself. Following NFL tenures with the Atlanta Falcons (2004-2006) and Seattle Seahawks (2009), he led UCLA to four bowl games, including two ranked seasons and a division championship. Taking over at UConn, he defied expectations by achieving bowl eligibility in two of three seasons, including an 8-4 record. Mora's NFL pedigree could aid UCF's transition into the new era of college sports, emphasizing his ability to develop NFL-caliber talent and manage a program navigating revenue sharing. In 2024, Sammis was named the interim coach of the Huskies after Mora was hired by Colorado State, showcasing UConn’s faith in his ability to lead, at least for a short time.

Rich Rodriguez - Jacksonville State Head Coach

Despite a less successful stint at Michigan, Rich Rodriguez boasts a strong track record, including a 60-26 record at West Virginia, where he led a high-powered offense. He also guided Arizona to five bowl games in six years, including a Pac-12 Championship appearance. At Jacksonville State, he has continued to produce impressive offensive numbers, potentially positioning him for a return to a major conference.

Barry Odom - UNLV Head Coach

Barry Odom was previously considered for the UCF head coaching position when Malzahn was hired. He served as the head coach at Missouri from 2016 to 2019 and has since led UNLV to a 9-5 and 9-2 record in 2023 and 2024, respectively.

Deion Sanders - Colorado Head Coach

Deion Sanders, or "Coach Prime," could inject significant attention and recruiting success into the program. A Florida native, he has shown progress in turning around the Colorado program. However, financial considerations and the potential departure of his sons, Shedeur and Shilo Sanders, and Travis Hunter to the NFL pose challenges to his recruitment.

Up-and-Coming Group of Five Head Coaches

Jon Sumrall - Tulane Head Coach

Jon Sumrall has garnered attention in coaching circles. A defensive-minded coach, he achieved a 23-4 record with two conference titles in two seasons at Troy. Taking over at Tulane, he has maintained the program's success, boasting a top-35 offense and a top-10 defense. His experience in the SEC, both as a player and assistant at Kentucky, adds to his appeal. In 2025, Tulane (10-2, 7-1 American) is one of the best teams in the G5 once again. Sumrall was the head coach at Troy for only two years before going to Tulane, but he certainly made a difference. Defense is Sumrall’s specialty, and during those two years, Troy ranked among the Sun Belt’s top three teams in total defense and scoring defense. He also had prior experience at Tulane. Sumrall was Kentucky’s co-defensive coordinator and inside linebackers coach before becoming the head coach at Troy.

Ryan Silverfield - Memphis Head Coach

Ryan Silverfield succeeded Mike Norvell at Memphis and has maintained the program's relevance in the AAC, achieving a 39-21 record without missing a bowl game. His offensive prowess is evident, with the Tigers ranking among the top 25 in offense in three of his five years. Silverfield's ties to Florida, as a Jacksonville native and former UCF graduate assistant, further enhance his candidacy. Since Silverfield became the head coach going into 2020, the Tigers haven’t suffered a losing season. He began his coaching career at the high school level with his alma mater, The Bolles School, in 1999 as an assistant. He returned to the high school level to be Memorial Day’s head coach in Savannah, Georgia, before going to Jacksonville University to be a quarterbacks coach in 2005. In 2008, he went to the pro level, becoming an offensive quality control staff member and defensive line staff assistant for the Minnesota Vikings. In 2014, he went back to the collegiate ranks to become an offensive consultant at Toledo.

Jeff Traylor - UTSA Head Coach

Jeff Traylor has achieved considerable success at UTSA, guiding the program through its transition from the Sun Belt to The American. His record of 32-9 from 2021-2023, including two conference titles in the Sun Belt, has drawn attention from other programs. However, a recent decline in offensive performance may raise concerns.

Read also: Head Coaching Prospects

Eric Morris - North Texas Head Coach

Oklahoma State hired North Texas head coach Eric Morris, one of the top head coaching candidates out of the Group of Five right now. Morris clearly knows the offensive side of the ball, as evidenced by his resume and what he’s done in his time at North Texas. He was previously a head coach at Incarnate Word from 2018-21. He was also at Texas Tech from 2013-17, where he spent time as an offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach. Before going to UNT, Morris was an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Washington State in 2022.

Hot Coordinators

Charlie Weis Jr. - Ole Miss Offensive Coordinator

Charlie Weis Jr. has emerged as a promising young coach under Lane Kiffin's tutelage. As the offensive coordinator and QB Coach at Florida Atlantic, he led the Owls to a Top 25 ranking in total offense and a C-USA Championship in 2019. Since joining Kiffin at Ole Miss, the Rebels' offense has consistently ranked among the top 15, with quarterback Jaxson Dart becoming the SEC's leading passer.

Will Stein - Oregon Offensive Coordinator

Will Stein, previously the passing game coordinator and offensive coordinator at UTSA, has revitalized the Oregon offense. Under his guidance, UTSA achieved a top-20 offensive ranking. At Oregon, he has further elevated the performance of former UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel, contributing to the Ducks' success.

Joey Halzle - Tennessee Offensive Coordinator

Joey Halzle, formerly UCF's QB Coach during the Josh Heupel era, has followed Heupel to Tennessee. He played a key role in the development of quarterbacks Hendon Hooker and Joe Milton. Assuming offensive coordinator duties in 2023, he continues to work with Milton.

Alex Mortensen - UAB Interim Head Coach

Alex Mortensen was UAB’s interim head coach for the Blazers’ last six games of the season. In the first game after UAB fired previous head coach Trent Dilfer and named Mortensen the interim head coach, the Blazers defeated Memphis 31-24. He was UAB’s offensive coordinator under Trent Dilfer. In Mortensen’s first season with the Blazers in 2023, they averaged 450 yards per game, which was a school record. Also in 2023, Mortensen coached quarterback Jacob Zeno, who set school records for completions (279) and completion percentage (73.6) and threw for 3,126 yards which was the second-most in a single season at UAB. Mortensen was previously a graduate assistant (2014-16) and offensive analyst (2017-22) at Alabama. Mortensen also was a quarterbacks coach and passing game coordinator at Division II New Mexico Highlands in 2012. A year later, he was on the St. Mortensen played quarterback at Arkansas, where he graduated from in 2009. He earned his master’s degree at Alabama in 2016.

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Brian Hartline - Ohio State Offensive Coordinator

Hartline has been either the offensive coordinator or co-OC at Ohio State since 2023. Previously, he was a passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach in 2022 and a wide receivers coach from 2019-21. He’s mentored some incredible wideouts during his career. Hartline is a former NFL wide receiver himself and played six seasons for the Miami Dolphins and one with the Cleveland Browns.

Beck

The Chanticleers went 6-6 this year and earned bowl-eligibility for the third straight year of Beck’s tenure. NC State, which is where Beck was an offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach from 2020-22, had some of the top offenses in the ACC during his time there. Beck coached running backs at Nebraska (2008-10) and wide receivers at Kansas (2005-07) and Missouri State (1996-97). He spent some time at the high school level, having began his career as an assistant at Miramar in Florida from 1988-89.

Golesh

Not only has Golesh led the Bulls to three bowls in his three seasons at USF, he’s helped the program rise to prominence in the Group of Five. Golesh’s first few seasons as a collegiate head coach have been an overall triumph. He was previously an offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at Tennessee from 2021-22. He was a co-offensive coordinator and tight ends coach at UCF in 2020. That was after he spent four years at Illinois in a variety of roles, including running backs coach, tight ends coach, and recruiting coordinator. He began his coaching career at his alma mater, Ohio State, as a student assistant from 2004-05.

Additional Considerations

Greg Austin

Considering Frost has brought back some of his old staff from his previous stint at UCF for another go around, such as Sean Beckton, Mike Dawson and Travis Fisher. It’s worth considering that he might do so again for the offensive line job. Like Frost was before his return, Austin is currently coaching in the NFL, serving as an assistant offensive line coach for the Philadelphia Eagles. It’s a job he only just picked up this season after a couple of years with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Gordon Sammis

Should Frost want to give a coach a chance to level up to a higher level of college football, there is an opportunity to bring in Gordon Sammis. In 2022, he joined up with coach Jim Mora at UConn and proceeded the keep the Huskies in the Top 30 in the FBS in least sacks allowed every season of his tenure, even as he was promoted to offensive coordinator in 2024.

Sam Pittman

Pittman was fired as the coach of Arkansas back in September, but ever since he began coaching in 1984, it’s mostly been offensive lines, doing so for Northern Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, North Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia.

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