Micah Byars is in his seventh year on the UCF staff. Byars arrived on the UCF campus in 2005, is in his sixth season as the program's director of operations. Byars manages travel coordination, youth basketball camps, on-campus recruiting and helps monitor the Knights' academic progress.
Since Byars arrived at UCF, 17 Knights have garnered Conference USA Commissioner's Academic Honor Roll recognition. During the 2009-10 campaign, nine UCF players received honor roll status.
Since Byars arrived at UCF, several Knights have earned individual accolades for their play. Keith Clanton and Marcus Jordan were C-USA All-Freshman Team picks in 2009-10. The following year, Jordan was selected to the All-C-USA Second Team, and Clanton was a third team pick. In 2008-09, Jermaine Taylor received several awards, including Associated Press All-America Honorable Mention recognition, C-USA Player of the Year honors and spots on the National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District II Team and the United States Basketball Writers Association All-District IV Team. The previous year, Taylor was named to the All-C-USA Second Team. Taylor was selected with the 32nd overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft.
In 2008-09, A.J. Rompza was named to the C-USA All-Freshman Team. Dave Noel was an all-conference defensive team selection the previous season and Josh Peppers earned a spot on the All-C-USA Second Team in 2006-07.
Prior to coming to UCF, Byars served as an assistant at Chipola College in Marianna, Fla., from 2003-05. With Byars on the staff, the Indians finished fourth in the nation in 2004-05 and sixth in 2003-04. The 2004-05 squad went 33-4. The 33 victories were a school record. Byars worked directly with Chipola's post players, while assisting with recruiting, scheduling and film exchange
While on the staff at Chipola, Byars coached and helped recruit several players who moved on to the Division I ranks, including Mario Boggan (Oklahoma State), Je'kel Foster (Ohio State) and Stefhon Hannah (Missouri). Foster earned National Junior College Athletic Association First Team All-America honors after the 2003-04 campaign. Boggan was an NJCAA Honorable Mention All-America the following year. In 2006-07, Hannah was named the Big 12 Conference's Newcomer of the Year and Boggan was an all-league first-team selection.
At Chipola, Byars also mentored Mike Taylor, who helped Idaho claim the 2008 National Basketball Association Development League title. After leading the Stampede to the crown, Taylor was selected in the second round of the NBA Draft by Portland.
From 2001-03, Byars worked as an administrative assistant on the New Orleans men's basketball staff under head coach Monte Towe. While Byars was on the Privateer staff, Hector Romero was named the Sun Belt Player of the Year in 2001-02. Romero was an All-Sun Belt First Team pick during both of Byars' seasons in New Orleans.
Before New Orleans, Byars was an assistant for two seasons under Towe at Santa Fe Community College in Gainesville, Fla. From 1999-01, the Saints claimed back-to-back Mid-Florida Conference Championship titles. With Byars on the staff, Santa Fe went 20-13 in 1999-00 and 26-8 the following year.
The Gainesville native attended Florida and spent two years (1994-95) as a defensive back on the Gators' football team. Byars earned his bachelor's degree in criminal justice from West Florida in 2006.
He began his coaching career in his hometown at P.K. Yonge High School in 1995. Byars spent time at the school as the freshman boys' basketball head coach and also served as the junior varsity football head coach.
(updated 3/31/11)