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Big 12 program fires DC, former Auburn analyst to overtake play-calling duties
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The Big 12 has long been unforgiving on defensive coordinators with its noted high-octane offenses. Another example of that unforgiving nature came Monday morning with the news that UCF has fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof.
The news was first reported by Pete Nakos of On3sports.
Sources: UCF fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof earlier today. Co-defensive coordinator/associate HC Addison Williams will take on the defensive play-calling duties. UCF led the Big 12 in pass defense in 2023 under Williams, who was the main DC. @PeteNakos_ first reported.
— Adam Rittenberg (@ESPNRittenberg) October 28, 2024
Co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach Addison Williams will reportedly take over the play-calling for the Knights defense. Just last season, UCF led the conference in pass defense under the direction of Williams, who was the main defensive coordinator in 2023.
Williams was a former member of Gus Malzahn’s coaching staff at Auburn, working as an analyst. He was also the Coastal Carolina safeties coach in 2020. Williams rejoined Malzahn and his UCF coaching staff in early 2021 after Malzahn left The Plains following 8 seasons as head coach and took the Knights head coaching job.
UCF is just 3-5 this season and has allowed a staggering 75 points combined in its past 2 games against ranked opponents Iowa State and BYU. The Knights also allowed 48 points to Deion Sanders’ Colorado team earlier this season, so clearly the UCF defense was struggling mightily against better opponents.
After 3 straight wins to start the season, things have clearly gotten away from the Knights, who’ve lost 5 in a row going into Saturday’s home game against Arizona.
Cory Nightingale, a former sportswriter and sports editor at the Miami Herald and Palm Beach Post, is a South Florida-based freelance writer who covers Alabama for SaturdayDownSouth.com.
