June 29, 2007
Orlando, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - UCF Head Coach George O'Leary announced the hiring of Tom Freeman as the football program's offensive line coach on Friday. Freeman has 36 years of collegiate coaching experience, including 32 on the Division I level.
Freeman's last stint was at Stanford University where he coached the guards and centers on the Cardinal offensive line and was the team's run game coordinator for the 2005 and 2006 seasons.
"I am very happy to add a coach with Tom's experience to our staff," O'Leary said. "He brings with him a lot of football knowledge and we are excited to have him here to work with our athletes at UCF."
During his coaching career, Freeman's teams have appeared in 10 bowl games, including six with Pittsburgh where he served for eight seasons as the offensive line coach and run game coordinator before making the move to Stanford. The 2004 Panthers earned the Big East's automatic bid to the BCS and appeared in the Fiesta Bowl.
"It is a great thrill to be here with Coach O'Leary and his staff," Freeman stated. "I have followed the progress of the Knights over the last three years and having just completed a tour of the facilities - this is a fabulous place. I also met with some of the athletes and I am very, very impressed. I look forward to the challenges of Conference USA and being a part of things here."
The veteran coach's Division I experience also includes five seasons at Purdue (1992-96), eight years at Arizona State (1984-91), three seasons at his alma mater San Diego State (1981-83) and six campaigns at Hawaii.
As a player, Freeman spent his first two years of college at San Diego City College before transferring to SDSU where he was a part of two College Division National Championship teams in 1967 and 1968. He began his coaching career as a graduate assistant with the Aztecs in 1969.
Several players coached by Freeman have had successful careers on the professional level, including Randall McDaniel, who was a 12-time Pro Bowl selection in the National Football League. McDaniel played under Freeman at Arizona State.
Freeman fills the spot on the UCF coaching staff after Joe Gilbert did not have his contract renewed for the 2007 season.
UCF opens the 2007 campaign on Sept. 1 at NC State. The Knights will make their debut at the 45,000-seat Bright House Networks Stadium on Sept. 15 against Texas. UCF will be playing on campus for the first time after spending the previous 28 campaigns at Florida Citrus Bowl in downtown Orlando.
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