UCF Knights Seek New Defensive Backs Coach After Harris Departure

The UCF Knights are on the hunt for a new defensive backs coach following the departure of Brandon Harris to Florida State. Coach Scott Frost now faces the task of filling this key position, alongside hiring a new offensive line coach, as the team prepares for the upcoming season.

One potential candidate is Travis Fisher, who currently serves as a senior defensive analyst for the Knights. Fisher, who previously worked as the defensive backs coach under Frost during his first tenure at UCF and at Nebraska, has a proven track record. He has coached several players who progressed to the NFL, including Clayton Geathers, Shaquil Griffin, and Mike Hughes at UCF, as well as Cam Taylor-Britt at Nebraska. Before returning to UCF, Fisher spent the 2023 season as the cornerbacks coach at Syracuse.

Fisher’s connection to UCF runs deep; he played for the Knights from 1999 to 2001 and began his coaching career at UCF in 2013. His familiarity with the program and experience at various levels of football make him a strong in-house option for Frost.

If Frost opts to search beyond UCF, Demario Warren, currently the cornerbacks coach at Boise State, emerges as a notable candidate. Since joining the Broncos in 2022, Warren has contributed to the team winning three consecutive Mountain West titles and finishing the 2023 season ranked 10th in the nation for team passing efficiency defense. His on-field achievements are complemented by a strong professional network; Frost can consult Erik Chinander, the defensive coordinator at Boise State, who previously worked with Frost at UCF and Nebraska.

Warren’s coaching credentials include a decade-long tenure at Southern Utah, where he progressed from defensive backs coach to head coach from 2016 to 2021. The primary consideration for Frost will be whether Warren, who has never coached outside of the West, would be willing to relocate to Florida.

Another promising candidate is Perry Eliano, the cornerbacks coach at Toledo, who has overseen a defense that ranked second nationally in team passing efficiency defense. While Eliano brings considerable experience, Frost might also consider Tim Bennett, the assistant defensive backs coach at Toledo, who has held his position for two seasons. Bennett previously served as the director of player development at Toledo and has been instrumental in the development of players like Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, projected as a Day 2 selection for the 2026 NFL Draft.

As Frost evaluates these candidates, he aims to secure a coach who can continue to develop the defensive backs and maintain the team’s competitive edge. The Knights’ search for a new defensive backs coach underscores the program’s commitment to building a strong coaching staff in preparation for the 2024 season.

For the latest updates on UCF’s coaching staff and other developments, stay tuned.