Mike Kruczek, who spent six seasons as UCF’s football coach, is returning to Orlando to take over the football program at Trinity Prep.

Kruczek, a former NFL quarterback, coached the Knights to a 36-30 record from 1998-2003 and spent last year as the offensive coordinator at UMASS. His hiring was confirmed Monday afternoon by Saints athletic director Kathy Finnucan.

"We wanted to get the best possible person we could and we got that in Mike," Finnucan said. "He's from this area and I think anytime you can get an ex-NFL quarterback who has coached at every level, it's a great thing."

Kruczek will work on campus teaching strength and conditioning classes while also serving as a recruiting liason for Trinity Prep's athletes. He will be introduced to the parents and coaches on Wednesday night and will begin work April 1. 

Kruczek has some familiarity with the program having spent one season as Trinity Prep's offensive coordinator in 2008. 

"He's a great teacher of the game and the kids have a tremendous amount of respect for him," Finnucan said. "He gets kids prepared and pays attention to all the details."

Kruczek, who spent 19 seasons at UCF and was fired with two games remaining in the 2003 season, replaces Drew Nemec, who compiled a 67-75 record in 14 seasons at Trinity Prep. Nemec stepped down at the end of last seasons, in which the Saints finished 2-8.

Kruczek will attempt to revive the Saints program, which hasn’t made the playoffs since 2008.

Kruczek’s resume includes three seasons as the quarterbacks coach with the Arizona Cardinals and three years as offensive coordinator for the United Football League’s Sacramento Mountain Lions. He started his coaching career in 1982 as the quarterbacks coach at Florida State under Bobby Bowden.

Kruczek, who played collegiately at Boston College, was selected 47th overall in the 1976 NFL Draft by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He won two Super Bowls in four seasons with the Steelers.

Kruczek’s son, Garrett, is a junior at Lake Howell and plays quarterback for the Silver Hawks.

More to come shortly...

Austin Lyon can be reached at austin.lyon@bhsn.com. Follow him on Twitter, @AustinRLyon