Jan. 14, 2010
ORLANDO, Fla. -
By John Denton
UCFAthletics.com
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UCF reached back into its championship past on Thursday in hopes of continuing its great defensive success of the past two years when it hired John Skladany as its linebackers coach and special teams assistant.
Skladany, a coach with 30 years of collegiate experience, served as UCF's defensive coordinator during the 2007 season when the Knights won the Conference USA title and played in the Liberty Bowl. That UCF team was defined by its aggressive defense, a unit that placed five players on the all-conference teams, ranked third in the nation in interceptions (24) and finished third in the conference in sacks (39).
Skladany, who will be replacing Geoff Collins who left UCF to pursue other coaching opportunities, spent the past two seasons as the defensive coordinator at C-USA rival Houston. His Cougars reached bowl games each of the past two seasons and won C-USA's West Division this past season.
``I was here in 2007 and I have to say that I am so thrilled to be back,'' Skladany said Thursday afternoon. ``I get a chance to work for Coach (George) O'Leary and a great group of players. I couldn't be more excited about it.''
Skladany will be working under UCF defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable, who led the Knights to tremendous success in 2009. UCF ranked fourth overall in the nation in rush defense and led the C-USA in almost every major defensive category. Skladany said he is already very familiar with many of the UCF players who were on the team in 2007 and he thinks the future is bright for the Knights' defense.
``It's a team that has a tremendous nucleus and I'm really anxious to get out there and start working with them again,'' Skladany said. ``I'm ready for spring practice already so that we can get started again.''
O'Leary said the familiarity with Skladany made him the obvious choice to head up the linebackers and assist with the special teams. Skladany's success and aggressive style of coaching in the 2007 season clearly made an impression on O'Leary.
``John was one of many applicants for this job and I am very pleased to hire an experienced coach who has been involved in many defensive schemes,'' O'Leary said.
Skladany said his familiarity with his fellow UCF coaches, the players who were here in 2007 and the surrounding Central Florida area will make his transition a smooth one.
``That's a tremendous plus, already knowing a lot of the players and my surroundings,'' he said. ``It should help in recruiting, too.''
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John Denton's Knights Insider appears on UCFathletics.com several times a week. E-mail John at jdenton@athletics.ucf.edu.