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Danny White Embraces Challenges Facing UCF Program, Knows Time Is Of The Essence

Incoming UCF AD Danny White "dreamed about leading" the school's athletics department for much of the past decade, and his "long-time dream became reality Thursday morning when he took his first steps on campus," according to Shannon Green of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. He said, "This is a really special opportunity that's one that I think, for me, is the most attractive Group of 5 athletic director job in the country and more attractive than a lot of Power 5 jobs." Although he won't start working for UCF full-time until January, he is "already jumping head-first into the pressing matter of hiring a head football coach." White was "scheduled to fly to Atlanta Thursday night to meet with the school's search firm to discuss potential candidates." With the "growing number of head football coaching vacancies, time is of the essence." UCF President John Hitt said that the school "plans to have a new football coach in place well before Jan. 1." Beyond hiring a football coach, White "hasn't had time to identify any other immediate priorities specific to UCF's athletics department." White: "I need to come here and learn more about the place and we will set about goals and they're going to be aggressive. But I need to go through the process before I do that" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/20).

A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE: In Orlando, Mike Bianchi in a front-page piece writes White is "officially on the clock." He will actually "be tying up loose ends at his old job" at the Univ. at Buffalo while "simultaneously helping UCF finish an expedited search to find a successor for recently retired football coach George O'Leary." As much as O'Leary did for the program, Hitt "absolutely made the right decision by announcing O'Leary's retirement when he did." It allowed the school to "immediately begin its coaching search without having to sneak around behind the scenes." One of the qualities that "separated White from UCF's other AD candidates is that he has extensive experience in identifying coaching talent." When asked what attracted him to UCF, White "mentioned facilities, academic reputation and being at the country's second-largest public university smack-dab in the middle of one of the most fertile recruiting states in the nation." He said, "I've thought for a long time this is [a] place that has so much potential. There's no limit to what we can build here." Bianchi: "The charismatic White said all the right things Thursday and certainly won the news conference, but now he must win over UCF's frustrated fan base by hiring a successful football coach" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/20).

NOTHING BUT PRAISE
: AAC Commissioner Mike Aresco said that he was "thrilled when he heard" White was named UCF AD. In Orlando, Matt Murschel notes Aresco "has been friends with Danny's parents" -- Duke AD Kevin and his wife Jane -- "taking trips together." Aresco said, "He's obviously done a great job at Buffalo. Not only in hiring good coaches, but in branding, which is really important for an up-and-coming program. With his pedigree, Danny will do a great job here" (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 11/20).

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