<P> After an extensive coaching search, Oregon offensive coordinator Scott Frost was named as UCF's tenth head coach on December 1, 2015 . Serving under head coach Mark Helfrich, Frost had overseen one of college football's quickest and most explosive offenses at Oregon that helped the Ducks rise to national prominence, won multiple Pac - 12 conference championships, coached quarterback Marcus Mariota into a Heisman Trophy winner in 2014 and sent many players into the National Football League . All this after a successful collegiate playing career at quarterback for Stanford and Nebraska in the 1990s and in the National Football League as a quarterback for five years . </P> <P> In 2016, Frost and his explosive, up - tempo offense led the Knights to a 6--7 record . UCF began the Frost era with a 38 - 0 shutout win over FCS opponent South Carolina State . After losing its next two to Big Ten opponents #5 Michigan in a rout and Maryland in double overtime, the Knights defeated FIU and East Carolina . Central Florida then suffered a close 26 - 25 loss due to a late field goal to Temple on October 15 . The Knights rebounded the following week to defeat UConn by a score of 24 - 16 . UCF suffered a defeat on October 29 to Houston, then responded with wins over Tulane and Cincinnati, gaining bowl eligibility . Frost's squad concluded the regular season with losses to Tulsa and archrival South Florida . The Knights lost to Arkansas State in the 2016 Cure Bowl by a score of 31 - 13 . After the 2016 season, Oregon fired Mark Helfrich . Amidst rumors that he might be interested in the Ducks opening, Frost announced he was not interested in Oregon and that he would return as UCF's head coach in 2017 . Ironically, the position eventually went to UCF's rival coach, South Florida head coach Willie Taggart . </P> <P> Surprising even himself, Frost and his team went on to an undefeated regular season in 2017, defeating FIU, Maryland, Memphis, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Navy, Austin Peay, SMU, UConn, Temple, and rival USF in a War on I - 4 shootout . The breakout season for Frost and his team made him one of the most sought - after coaches on the market, drawing interest from Florida and his alma mater, Nebraska . Frost passed on the Florida job but avoided questions about returning to Nebraska . In the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championship game, Frost's team went on to play Memphis for the second time and won the title in a 62 - 55 double overtime thriller, securing UCF's third conference championship win . Just hours after winning the AAC, sources confirmed that Frost would be taking a seven - year, $35 million deal to become Nebraska's new head coach . Frost and his staff returned for one last game in the 2018 Peach Bowl . The No. 12 ranked Knights faced No. 7 ranked Auburn, and defeated them 34--27 to close out their undefeated season with a 13--0 record . After the win, UCF athletic director Danny White proclaimed UCF to be the NCAA FBS Division Football national champion . The claim sparked considerable controversy and debate over whether the College Football Playoff should be expanded . The team celebrated with a parade at Walt Disney World . Additionally, the team's coaches were paid bonuses for their performance, and the school has stated plans to hang a national championship banner in Spectrum Stadium . </P> <P> UCF has had eight head coaches since organized football began in 1979 . The Knights have played nearly 400 games in their 34 seasons . In that time, 3 coaches have led the Knights to the postseason: Gene McDowell, George O'Leary, and Scott Frost . McDowell in 1987, 1990, and 1993, O'Leary in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, and 2012, and Frost in 2016 and 2017 . O'Leary and Frost are the only coaches to win a division or conference championship at the school . Before leading UCF in 1983 and 1984, Lou Saban was a head coach in both the American Football League (AFL) and the National Football League (NFL). O'Leary also coached in the NFL between 2002 and 2004 . </P>

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