ORLANDO - UCF Hall of Famer Sean Beckton Sr. has been named associate head coach and wide receivers coach, Knights football head coach Scott Frost announced Friday.
“I’m honored to join Coach Frost’s staff, especially at a place that means so much to me. I’m excited to contribute to the program’s exciting history with such a talented group of players and coaches. UCF is home to me, and I’m thankful for the chance to help carry forward its proud legacy.”
During his time as coach with the Black and Gold, Beckton has helped the Knights win four of the six conference championships in UCF history and claim the program’s two New Year’s Six bowl wins. Additionally, numerous players have earned all-conference accolades under his guidance.
Beckton was a part of the historic 2017 National Championship campaign when the Knights went a perfect 13-0, highlighted by a victory over Auburn in the Peach Bowl. It marked the greatest two-year turnaround in NCAA history with both seasons (2016 & 2017) during Frost’s first stint with the Black and Gold.
As a player, Beckton concluded his career as UCF’s all-time leader in receptions (196) and receiving yards (2,493). Those marks currently rank third and fifth, respectively, in the UCF record books. He still owns the program record for consecutive games with a reception (42), punt returns in a single game (8) and punt return yardage (158) in a single game.
He was one of the first two football players inducted into the UCF Athletics Hall of Fame, as he was enshrined alongside Mark Giovanetti in 2000.
Beckton remains on the UCF staff in his fourth stint with the Knights, after rejoining the program as an analyst in July 2024. He served on staff from 2009-2017 as the Black and Gold's tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator (2016-17), wide receivers (2012-15) and defensive backs coach from 2009-11. He was also wide receivers coach from 1996-2003, after working as a graduate assistant from 1992-93.
Originally from Daytona Beach, Florida, Beckton served as tight ends coach at Nebraska for five years. He coached one of Nebraska’s best tight ends while in Lincoln with Frost from 2018-22, as Austin Allen set the Huskers’ season tight end records with 38 receptions and 602 yards. He also set a school single-game record with 143 receiving yards at Wisconsin. Allen earned first-team all-conference honors and was the Kwalick-Clark Big Ten Tight End of the Year.
Beckton led the Knights in receiving yards in three consecutive years as a player, highlighted by 1,030 yards as a sophomore in 1988. As a senior against Texas Southern, Beckton scored a touchdown four different ways (passing, rushing, receiving and punt return). He threw a 33-yard touchdown pass, rushed for an 11-yard TD, caught a 17-yard TD and returned a punt 60 yards for a touchdown.
Beckton earned his degree from UCF in liberal studies in 1993. He and his wife, Zorana, have one son, Sean Jr., and one daughter, Zaria. Sean Beckton Jr. is an assistant director of sports performance for the football program, and Zaria earned her degree from Nebraska in May 2022.