UCF legend McKenzie Milton has returned to his alma mater as quarterbacks coach, drawing on lessons from Scott Frost and Josh Heupel to mentor the Knights’ next generation of signal-callers.
McKenzie Milton is back at UCF, this time in a coaching role, and he’s carrying lessons from two of the most influential figures in his football life: Scott Frost and Josh Heupel.
Milton, one of the most beloved quarterbacks in UCF history, was undefeated as a starter from 2017 to 2018. Now, in his first season as UCF’s quarterbacks coach, he’s aiming to pass on the wisdom he’s gathered from coaching under the same men he once played for.
“Coach Frost and Coach Heup have been the two most impactful guys for me,” Milton said. “I’m just grateful I’ve gotten the opportunity to work with both of them now.”
Learning from Heupel
Milton spent the past two seasons at Tennessee under Heupel, his former UCF head coach. There, he got his first taste of life on the coaching side, serving as an offensive analyst and learning the rhythms of preparation and mentorship.
“One thing Heup told me is that coaching is a form of ministry,” Milton said. “Pouring back into these kids is what it’s all about, for me, and serving God in that process.”
Heupel also taught Milton the importance of consistency- staying true to the process, both in developing quarterbacks and managing a program.
“Heup’s one of the most consistent people I’ve been around. He’s always had successful quarterbacks, and I’ve taken a lot from how he prepared them, from fundamentals to film study, and started making those things my own.”
Back with Frost
Now under Scott Frost, the coach who recruited him to UCF out of Hawaii, Milton sees a full-circle moment unfolding.
“I think he’s grown as a man and a coach from his time at Nebraska and with the Rams,” Milton said. “If there’s anybody who can bring the right culture back here, it’s him.”
From Frost, Milton has adopted what he calls “controlled chaos,” a blend of intensity and composure that defines the best quarterback play.
“He always had that fierce competitiveness, but stayed calm and collected,” Milton said. “That balance lets you call plays at a high level and get guys to play above their ceiling.”
Coaching in the modern era
As a young coach, Milton is keenly aware of how different the college football landscape looks compared to his playing days, especially with NIL and the transfer portal now reshaping rosters.
“In today’s world, you’ve got to focus on transformational relationships, not transactional ones,” he said. “Coach Heup used to say, ‘You get what you recruit.’ So we’re really focused on bringing in the right kind of guys.”
He believes UCF has done just that in the quarterback room, and is eager to see how his group responds when real adversity arrives.
“So far, I think they’ve bought in,” Milton said. “But we haven’t played any games yet. That’s when we’ll really find out who we are.”
Coaching is a natural fit
For Milton, coaching feels less like a new job and more like a calling.
“I love it. I feel like this is what God has intended for me to do,” he said. “I feel like my whole journey as a player kind of prepared me for this, then the last two years in Knoxville with Coach Heup. Learning from everybody that’s taught me something along this path has helped me get to this point. I’m beyond grateful for this opportunity.”
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Category: General Sports
