Ted Roof fired: Why was UCF defensive coordinator dismissed?

The UCF Knights' defense under defensive coordinator Ted Roof has been leaking heavily in the past few weeks, starting with a blowout 48-21 loss at home to the Colorado Buffaloes. In Week 9 of college football action, the Knights again allowed the BYU Cougars a dominant showing in a 37-24 loss.

On Monday, college football insider and On3 analyst Pete Nakos reported that the Knights had fired Roof as the defensive coordinator with four games of the season remaining. He was hired in January to coach Gus Malzahn's staff after he left a similar role under coach Brent Venables of the Oklahoma Sooners.

The Knights are on a five-game losing streak, stretching back from the spectacular home loss to the Colorado Buffaloes. To compound their problems, the team is allowing 30.6 points per game (107th nationally) this season.

Last season, UCF was one of the sturdiest defensive teams in the country, allowing only 196.7 passing yards per game, the fewest in the Big 12 conference, before Ted Roof was hired.

Under Roof, UCF was allowing 5.6 yards per play this season, culminating in huge losses to the unbeaten BYU Cougars (37-24) and the Iowa State Cyclones (38-35). This, eventually, led to his firing.

This was Roof's second stint as the defensive coordinator of the UCF Knights. He spent the 2011 season in the same capacity before departing for the Penn State Nittany Lions DC job.

Ted Roof: The ultimate college football journeyman

Ted Roof has been the ultimate college football journeyman, coaching 14 programs in his 34-year career that started as a linebackers coach for the West Georgia Wolves in 1989.

During an interview with "The Oklahoman" last year, he revealed that he was not retiring anytime soon.

"Until I quit loving it," Ted Roof said. "I love it. I love waking up. Every day I wake up, I can’t wait to get to the office. When I don’t feel like that anymore, I won’t do it anymore. I love the grind. When I quit loving it, I’ll quit doing it. I’ll find something else to do. But I don’t see that happening anytime soon."

During his coaching career, Roof has been a defensive coordinator for Minnesota, UCF, Penn State, Vanderbilt, NC State, Appalachian State and NC State among a variety of other roles.

Over his career, Ted Roof has been nominated thrice for the prestigious Broyles Award, given to the nation's top assistant in college football.