With three games left in his first season as a defensive coordinator, Erik Chinander has already accomplished one of the most dramatic turnarounds in UCF football history.
Chinander, 36, took a Knights defense that finished among the worst of 128 Football Bowl Subdivision teams last year and turned it into one of the most productive defenses in the country, ranking No. 31 this week.
A study by coachingsearch.com found UCF was the third most improved overall defense in the country. The team ranks among the top 20 in seven defensive categories this week, including No.