UCF has fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof eight games into his first season with the program, sources confirmed to CBS Sports’ Brandon Marcello. Associate head coach and co-defensive coordinator Addison Williams, who served as defensive coordinator in 2023, will replace Roof for the remainder of this season.
Roof was hired to lead UCF’s defense in 2011 but left the appointment after a few weeks to take the same job at Penn State.
UCF’s decision comes amid a 3-5 start to the year, including a 1-4 record in Big 12 play. The Knights, who were picked to finish eighth in the conference in the Big 12 Media Poll, have plummeted to tie for 15th amid a five-game losing streak.
The Knights have allowed at least 30 points against four of their five Big 12 opponents thus far, including in a 35-34 win against TCU. UCF was outscored 75-59 in recent losses to BYU and Iowa State, who currently sit at the top of the Big 12 table.
For the entire season, UCF currently ranks 12th in the Big 12 in total defense (379.1 yards per game) and 11th in scoring defense (27.1 points per game). UCF’s pass defense, in particular, has struggled while surrendering 247.3 yards per game.
Prior to joining Gus Malzahn’s staff at UCF, Roof was the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach at Oklahoma for two seasons before the two sides parted ways in January. He was also the head coach at Duke from 2003-07, where he had a 6-45 overall record, and has had other defensive coordinator stints at programs like Georgia Tech, Auburn and Vanderbilt.
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