Dec. 5, 2011
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By Brian Ormiston
UCFAthletics.com
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - UCF football head coach George O'Leary announced Monday the hiring of Drew Hughes as the Knights' director of player personnel, and the addition of Paul Carrington as the operations assistant. Hughes joins the Knights after spending the previous five seasons with the University of Alabama, while Carrington was a defensive end for the Black and Gold from 2002-05.
While with the Crimson Tide from 2007-11, Hughes most recently served as a recruiting specialist for head coach Nick Saban. He assisted in player evaluation breakdowns and compiling the recruiting prospect board. Hughes also helped in the daily operations for the Nick Saban Summer Camps from 2008-11, and spent time on the football video staff for four years.
"I am excited about the opportunity to join the staff here at UCF," said Hughes. "I'm thankful to coach Saban and his staff at the University of Alabama for the opportunity to work and learn under them for five seasons. I look forward to working for coach O'Leary and the UCF staff as we continue the process of building champions both on and off the field."
Graduating from Alabama in May 2011 with a bachelor's degree in education, Hughes gained experience as a secondary coach in the spring of 2011 at Tuscaloosa County Hugh School (Ala.), as well as an intern on the offensive side of the ball in 2010.
Returning to the Knights, Carrington amassed 139 tackles in 46-career games in a Black and Gold uniform. He finished with 30.5 tackles for loss, 16.0 sacks, five fumble recoveries, four forced fumbles, two blocked kicks, eight pass break-ups and an interception. He led Conference USA in 2005 with 9.0 sacks.
"It feels amazing to be back on campus, back around football and back around the Black and Gold," said Carrington. "This is where I belong. I'm nothing but grateful to coach O'Leary for allowing me the opportunity to start my coaching career. I'm happy to be back."
Following his UCF career, Carrington signed a free-agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons in the spring of 2006 and went on to play in 15 games with two starts for the Falcons that season. The Georgia native would then sign with the Denver Broncos in 2007, and he also suited up for the United Football League's California Redwoods from 2009-10.
Carrington received his bachelor's degree in communications from UCF in 2005, and then earned his master's in sports and fitness with an emphasis on exercise physiology in December 2010.