The Big 12 has long been unforgiving on defensive coordinators with its noted high-octane offenses. Another example of that unforgiving nature came Monday morning with the news that UCF has fired defensive coordinator Ted Roof.

The news was first reported by Pete Nakos of On3sports.

Co-defensive coordinator and associate head coach Addison Williams will reportedly take over the play-calling for the Knights defense. Just last season, UCF led the conference in pass defense under the direction of Williams, who was the main defensive coordinator in 2023.

Williams was a former member of Gus Malzahn’s coaching staff at Auburn, working as an analyst. He was also the Coastal Carolina safeties coach in 2020. Williams rejoined Malzahn and his UCF coaching staff in early 2021 after Malzahn left The Plains following 8 seasons as head coach and took the Knights head coaching job.

UCF is just 3-5 this season and has allowed a staggering 75 points combined in its past 2 games against ranked opponents Iowa State and BYU. The Knights also allowed 48 points to Deion Sanders’ Colorado team earlier this season, so clearly the UCF defense was struggling mightily against better opponents.

After 3 straight wins to start the season, things have clearly gotten away from the Knights, who’ve lost 5 in a row going into Saturday’s home game against Arizona.