Following five years of record-breaking success in the classroom, in competition and in fundraising at UCF, Vice President and Director of Athletics Danny White has accepted a similar position at the University of Tennessee.

UCF will immediately begin a national search for a new vice president and director of athletics.

“I will personally miss working closely with Danny,” says President Alex N. Cartwright. “Danny will leave UCF with incredible momentum and a strong foundation for success, including a culture of innovation and winning with integrity and strengthening UCF’s national reputation well beyond the sports world. I am committed to working with all of you to build on our momentum to achieve sustained excellence in competition, in the classroom and beyond.

“I am certain that we will attract premier candidates who are eager to work alongside our talented coaches and athletics staff and who share our commitment to our student-athletes’ success in the classroom and preparing them well for careers after they graduate.” — President Alexander N. Cartwright

“I am certain that we will attract premier candidates who are eager to work alongside our talented coaches and athletics staff and who share our commitment to our student-athletes’ success in the classroom and preparing them well for careers after they graduate. And I know they will also be excited about joining our fans in Knight Nation, just as I was when I became president.”

Among UCF’s accomplishments during the past five years:

  • UCF’s student-athletes have earned an overall GPA of at least 3.2 for eight consecutive semesters and at least 3.0 for 26 consecutive semesters. A record 302 student-athletes from UCF were selected to the 2019-20 American Athletic Conference All-Academic Team.
  • Every UCF team competing in head-to-head sports posted a winning record the past three seasons. We are the only program in the country to accomplish that feat. UCF’s football team won a national championship and played in two New Year’s Six bowls. The men’s and women’s basketball teams earned NCAA tournament bids in 2019, and every team has been ranked in the top 25 at some point during the past five years.
  • UCF Athletics raised more than $35.5 million in gift commitments and $17.4 million in cash gifts during the 2019-20 year. Both numbers were records and, more importantly, a testament to the generosity of UCF donors.

White said that when he was hired at UCF in November 2015, “our goal was to become one of the nation’s premier destinations’ for coaches and student-athletes. I also had a goal to excite our student body, staff and faculty, alumni and the Central Florida community. With the tremendous support of our student-athletes, coaches, staff, donors, students and all of Knight Nation, we certainly accomplished those goals.”

White added that under President Cartwright’s leadership, “the future is very bright at UCF. It was extremely difficult to tell Alex that I was leaving as he is a tremendous leader and friend. UCF is definitely in great hands, and I look forward to watching the continued success of this phenomenal university. The White family will always be Knight fans!”