UCF Knights football coaching staff finalized: A look at each assistant under Scott Frost

Posted by author January 31, 2025 Football

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ORLANDO — Scott Frost has put the finishing touches on his second staff as UCF football coach.

Frost stated at his introductory press conference that he planned to be deliberate with his choices. While he made his first hire within 48 hours of exiting the stage, Frost spent more than a month interviewing and finalizing the choices for the rest of his assistants.

In the meantime, UCF had more than two-dozen holes to patch on its roster, suffering significant losses both to graduation and the transfer portal — including a handful of starters at premium positions.

With the assistants all in place, let’s take a closer look at Frost’s selections ahead of a pivotal 2025 campaign.

Steve Cooper

Position: Offensive coordinator
Previous Experience: Boise State (2024; Offensive analyst), Maine (2023; OC/QBs coach), Nebraska (2018-22; Offensive quality control, interim QBs coach, senior offensive analyst), Portland State (2010-17; TEs coach, WRs coach, OC/QBs coach)
Details: Cooper spent four years on Frost’s staff at Nebraska, largely in off-field roles. In his last stint as an OC, Maine finished 10th in the Football Championship Subdivision in passing yards (3,081). Cooper began his coaching career at his alma mater, Portland State, where he mentored Julius Thomas from a basketball player into an NFL draft pick at tight end.

McKenzie Milton

Position: Quarterbacks coach
Previous Experience: Tennessee (Offensive analyst, 2023-24)
Details: Frost’s first addition to the staff was one of his most accomplished quarterbacks ever and a certified UCF legend. Hawai’i native Milton ranks third all-time in program history with 9,761 yards of total offense, responsible for 92 touchdowns and leading the Knights to a magical 13-0 record and Peach Bowl title in 2017. He spent the last two years on Josh Heupel’s staff at Tennessee, and this will be his first shot as a position coach.

Jimmy Beal

Position: Running backs coach
Previous Experience: Utah State (2024; RBs coach), San Diego State (2023; RBs coach), Montana State (2020-22; RBs coach), South Dakota State (2019; RBs coach), Northern Arizona (2010-18; RBs coach, TEs coach), Texas State (2009; Graduate assistant)
Details: A Los Angeles native, Beal crosses the country after overseeing a Utah State rushing attack that averaged 198.6 yards per game — good for 23rd in the Football Bowl Subdivision. Earlier in his career, he split time coaching football at Rocky Mountain College, and track and field at Montana State University Billings.

Sean Beckton

Position: Associate head coach/wide receivers coach
Previous Experience: UCF (2024; Senior analyst), Nebraska (2018-22; TEs coach), UCF (2009-17; DBs coach, WRs coach, TEs coach, recruiting coordinator), Orlando Predators (2007-08; WRs coach), UCF (1996-2003; WRs coach)
Details: Beckton has been a mainstay at UCF since his playing days, when he graduated as the program’s all-time leading receiver (196 catches, 2,493 yards). He’s worked on the respective staffs of Gene McDowell, Mike Kruczek, George O’Leary, Scott Frost and Gus Malzahn. The Daytona Beach native coached tight ends during Frost’s previous tenure, playing a key role in the development of both Jordan Akins and Michael Colubiale.

Shawn Clark

Position: Offensive line coach
Previous Experience: Appalachian State (2016-24; Head coach, AHC, Co-OC, OL coach), Kent State (2013-15; OL coach), Purdue (2009-12; OL coach), Eastern Kentucky (2003-08; OL coach), Louisville (2001-02; Graduate assistant)
Details: Clark spent the last four seasons as Appalachian State’s head coach, compiling a 40-24 record and three bowl victories. As an O-line coach for the Mountaineers, Clark’s unit ranked sixth in run blocking (86.0) in 2019 and tied for second in pass protection (92.7) in 2017, according to Pro Football Focus. He played at App State from 1994-98, earning three all-conference selections and two Division I-AA All-American nominations.

Alex Grinch

Position: Defensive coordinator
Previous Experience: Wisconsin (2024; Co-DC/safeties coach), USC (2022-23; DC/safeties coach), Oklahoma (2019-21; DC/safeties coach), Ohio State (2018; Co-DC/safeties coach), Washington State (2015-17; DC/DBs coach/safeties coach), Missouri (2012-14; Safeties coach), Wyoming (2009-11; DBs coach/recruiting coordinator), New Hampshire (2005-08; DBs coach/recruiting coordinator, CBs coach), Missouri (2002-04; Graduate assistant)
Details: Arguably the most high-profile of Frost’s hires, Grinch has twice been named a semifinalist for the Broyles Award, given to the nation’s top assistant coach. Grinch oversaw two top-40 finishes in total defense at Oklahoma, but he could not replicate that success with Lincoln Riley at USC. Upon his firing in November 2023, the Trojans ranked 119th in yards allowed per game (436.9) and 121st in points allowed per game (34.5). He is the nephew of former Missouri coach Gary Pinkel.

Mike Dawson

Position: Defensive run game coordinator/edge rushers coach
Previous Experience: Kansas (2024; Senior defensive analyst), Ohio State (2023; Defensive analyst), Nebraska (2020-22; LBs coach, OLBs/EDGE coach, DL/EDGE coach), New York Giants (2019; OLBs coach), Nebraska (2018; DL coach), UCF (2016-17; DL coach), Philadelphia Eagles (2013-15; DL coach, defensive quality control), Boston College (2009-11; ST coordinator), Akron (2006-08; LBs coach), New Hampshire (2000-05; DC/LBs coach, LBs coach, OL coach), Pittsburgh (1999; Graduate assistant), Maine (1998; Assistant DL coach), UMass Lowell (1998; Assistant DL coach)
Details: Dawson returns for his second tour of duty at UCF, working as the defensive line coach in Frost’s first tenure. His debut 2016 campaign coincided with the Knights ranking among the country’s top 20 teams in TFLs (7.9) and sacks (2.9) per game. Trysten Hill and Jamiyus Pittman blossomed into All-AAC players under Dawson’s tutelage.

Kenny Martin

Position: Defensive tackles coach
Previous Experience: UCF (2021-present; DTs coach), Western Kentucky (2016-20; DTs coach, Defensive graduate assistant), Virginia-Wise (2015; DL coach)
Details: Martin was the lone assistant retained from Malzahn’s staff in his previous role. The Orlando native landed UCF’s highest-ranked recruit in history, John Walker, and developed Lee Hunter into an All-Big 12 second-team selection in 2024. Martin got his start in coaching at nearby Ocoee High School, following a four-year playing career at Western Kentucky in which he started 42 games and made 74 career tackles.

Mark D’Onofrio

Position: Linebackers coach
Previous Experience: Stanford (2023-24; ILBs coach), Wisconsin (2022; ILBs coach), Houston (2017-18; DC/ILBs coach), Miami (2011-15; DC/AHC), Temple (2006-10; DC/AHC/LBs coach), Virginia (2004-05; ST coordinator/LBs coach, TEs coach), Rutgers (2001-03; LBs coach/recruiting coordinator), Georgia (2000, Defensive analyst), Saint Peter’s (1999; LBs coach)
Details: D’Onofrio rounded out Frost’s staff when his hiring was made official Friday. He has coached or recruited 10 players selected in the first three rounds of the NFL draft, most recently Denzel Perryman and David Njoku from Miami. As a player, D’Onofrio earned All-Big East honors at Penn State before being taken in the second round of the 1992 draft by the Green Bay Packers. His NFL career lasted just two seasons due to injury.

Brandon Harris

Position: Defensive backs coach
Previous Experience: Florida Atlantic (2022-24; Co-DC/CBs coach), Florida International (2021; CBs coach), Florida State (2020; Defensive analyst), Florida International (2019; Graduate assistant)
Details: The younger brother of former UCF offensive coordinator Tim Harris Jr., Brandon Harris was the 2007 Gatorade Florida High School Football Player of the Year. He went on to earned All-American third-team honors at Miami, and he suited up for 42 NFL games with the Houston Texans and the Tennessee Titans. FAU snagged 11 interceptions and scored two defensive touchdowns last season.

Pete Alamar

Position: Special teams coordinator/senior analyst
Previous Experience: Rice (2023-24; Interim head coach, AHC/ST coordinator), Stanford (2012-22; TEs coach/ST coordinator), Fresno State (2010-11; TEs coach/ST coordinator), California (2003-09; TEs coach/ST coordinator), Eastern Michigan (2000-02; OC/OL coach/TE coach), Arizona (1995-99; ST coordinator, LBs coach, TEs coach), UANL (1994; Head coach), Arizona (1993; Graduate assistant), James Madison (1991-92; TEs coach/defensive assistant), Cal Poly (1987-88; RBs coach/H-backs coach), Cal Lutheran (1985-86; OL coach), Louisiana-Lafayette (1984; Graduate assistant), Cal Poly (1983; Graduate assistant)
Details: Alamar has more than 40 years of experience, and nearly 20 specializing in special teams. He went 2-2 as an interim head coach last season at Rice following Mike Bloomgren’s dismissal while the Owls ranked ninth in kick return yardage (29.2 ypg). Notable returnmen coached by Alamar include Christian McCaffrey, Ty Montgomery and DeSean Jackson. In Alamar’s final year at Stanford, Joshua Karty was chosen as a finalist for the Lou Groza Award as the nation’s top kicker.

Zach Duval

Position: Director of sports performance for football
Previous Experience: Nebraska (2018-22; Strength and conditioning coach), UCF (2016-17; Director of sports performance for football), Wyoming (2014-15; Director of sports performance), Buffalo (2010-13; Director of sports performance), Creighton (2009; Director of athletics performance), Nebraska (2008; Assistant football strength coach), Nebraska (1997-2002; Assistant football strength coach)
Details: Known for producing “war daddies” at UCF, Duval received FootballScoop’s National Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year award in 2017. He was not retained when Matt Rhule took over at Nebraska after the 2022 season.