Dr. John Hitt, University President - UCF Hall of Fame Class of 2023

Dr. John Hitt helped elevate the university and its athletics to an entirely new level. He strengthened the university’s academic quality and national reputation, as well as partnerships that continue to benefit students and the community.

Dr. Hitt awarded more than 260,000 degrees, more than any other president in State University System of Florida history, expanding UCF’s talent pipeline of graduates who advanced to successful careers in industries vital to the region and state.

He shepherded an athletics program that enjoyed strong success during his presidency in competition and in the classroom, and that delivered him the nation’s only undefeated season and a national championship in his final year as president.

Dr. Hitt championed the construction of an on-campus football stadium, which played a key role in UCF heading into the Big 12 conference in 2023.

He established the John & Martha Hitt Athletics Scholarship Fund in 2018; recently the Hitts established an endowment to support the UCF AD discretionary fund.

Dr. Hitt, who became UCF’s fourth president in 1992 and retired in June 2018, died February 20, 2023 at the age of 82.

2023-JohnHitt