ORLANDO – UCF’s defensive tackles coach Kenny Martin will remain on staff, head coach Scott Frost announced Wednesday. An Orlando native, Martin’s defensive tackles have figured prominently in the Knights’ defensive efforts over the last four years.
Entering his fifth season with the Knights in 2025, Martin is now the longest tenured defensive tackles coach in the state of Florida.
“It’s truly a blessing and honor to have the opportunity to be a part of Coach Frost’s staff,” said Martin. “Orlando is home, UCF is home, and the fans have welcomed me and my family with open arms. I look forward to making this university proud and helping bring back the winning tradition that UCF Football is known for. I believe in this team, and I believe in this coaching staff.”
In 2024, Lee Hunter was named a second team All-Big 12 selection after tallying 45 tackles with 9.5 tackles for loss. According to Pro Football Focus’ (PFF) advanced metrics, Hunter graded out at 77.0, which was the second best in the Big 12 for a defensive tackle and ranked among the nation’s best.
Ricky Barber had a stellar final year for the Knights and received consideration for the conference's defensive lineman of the year award. He had 34 tackles, including six tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Hunter claimed honorable mention All-Big 12 recognition after making more regular-season tackles in 2023 (64, including 10.5 tackles for loss) than any defensive tackle in the nation (according to PFF). UCF also received key assistance at from true freshman John Walker, who added 24 tackles (five for loss), and was named a true freshman All-American by On3.
Martin’s tackles played noteworthy roles in 2022 with veteran Anthony Montalvo (43 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, 6 QB hurries) adding experience with his 35 career starts in a Knight uniform and Barber (49 tackles, 9 TFL, 3 sacks, team-high 12 QB hurries) claiming honorable mention All-America honors from Pro Football Network. Barber was a first-team All-American Athletic Conference pick by both the league’s coaches and PFN.
The Knights’ defensive tackles assisted the UCF defense in leading the country in red-zone defense much of the year, ultimately finishing fifth. Meanwhile Martin’s tackles helped UCF reach the nine-win mark for a second consecutive year, as the Knights advanced to the AAC Championship Game for the first time in four years and qualified for a bowl game for the seventh straight season.
In 2021, UCF won six of its final seven games to close the season (capped by a Gasparilla Bowl win over Florida). The Knights defense permitted only 11.8 points per game in those six combined victories. UCF averaged 8.1 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks in those six games—and finished the regular season ranked seventh nationally in pass efficiency defense (110.73) and 26th in tackles for loss (6.8 per game).
Martin’s group helped the UCF defense improve 70 spots in NCAA total defense rankings —averaging 122.5 fewer total yards per game allowed in 2021 compared to the previous season.
Prior to UCF, he was the defensive tackles coach from 2018-20 for Western Kentucky's defenses that ranked among the most productive in the country. Martin first returned to his alma mater in 2016 and worked with the defensive tackles position group for five seasons, the first two as a graduate assistant coach.
A four-year letterman for Western Kentucky, Martin started 42 games from 2009-12 (74 career tackles) and was a member of the Hilltoppers' first FBS bowl team in the 2012 Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl. He is a 2012 Western Kentucky graduate with a degree in sociology.
Martin and his wife, the former Tasha Babb, have a daughter Khloe and son Tre.