Skladany, Seamonson to lead defense

UCF football announced  Friday the hiring of John Skladany as the new defensive coordinator and Al Seamonson as the new linebackers coach.

Skladany served as UCF's defensive coordinator in 2007. Last season, he was the linebackers coach and a special teams assistant for the Knights.

"I look at the results, he came well recommended," said head coach George O'Leary.

Seamonson, who previously coached linebackers at Maryland, will join Skladany's defensive staff.

Seamonson helped coach Maryland to seven bowl games in his 10 years there, as well as a 2001 ACC Championship. Seamonson has helped coach some of the top defensive NFL players in their collegiate years, including three-time NFL All-Pro linebacker Shawne Merriman.

"I've known Central Florida for a long time. Always felt it was a gold mine opportunity," said Seamonson.

In 2010, Skladany returned to UCF as a defensive assistant and helped the Knights become one of the top NCAA teams defensively. Skladany previously served as defensive coordinator at Ohio (1988-89), Iowa State (1996-06) and Houston (2008-09).

"We're keeping the same system, it will stay as is," said Skladany of former UCF defensive coordinator Dave Huxtable's defensive system. "If it's not broke don't fix it."

MORE SIGNINGS TO COME WEDNESDAY

With National Signing Day (Feb. 2) looming, UCF is rounding up another solid recruiting class. According to Rivals.com, the Knights are expected to rack up the top recruiting class in Conference USA (having already signed a four-star commit in Toby Jackson), and the second-best recruiting class in the nation out of mid-major schools.

A player on UCF's wish list is three-star wide receiver Rayshon Williams (Denver), who happens to be the cousin of former UCF standout and All-Pro Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall.

Williams' teammate, Leilon Willingham, a four-star linebacker, also holds an offer from UCF. The Denver duo visited campus over the weekend and could be a part of a surprise package deal for the Knights.