USF HEALTH FEATURE: The Bulls Youngest Assistant, "Coach Hoodie" Is Excited For USF Future

March 15, 2023

USF offensive line coach Tyler Hudanick just turned 26. How young is that?

Some perspective:

In 2018, Hudanick played his final college regular-season game at left guard for the UCF Knights, who faced the USF Bulls at Raymond James Stadium. Also playing in that game: USF freshman Donovan Jennings.

Hudanick is now the position coach for Jennings, who is returning for his sixth USF season (due to an injury redshirt and COVID bonus year).

"Being a young guy, I think I can relate to the players in a unique way, but all coaches gain a level of respect from how they carry themselves,'' Hudanick said. "I can command a group and get what we need from them. We've had success where I've been before and being a young coach hasn't created many issues.''

First-year USF head coach Alex Golesh said he didn't hesitate to hire Hudanick, affectionately known to all as "Coach Hoodie.'' Hudanick worked as a graduate assistant with Golesh at UCF (2019-20) and Tennessee (2021-22).

"There's no question that Coach Hoodie has a great personality, the kids like him, the parents like him and he's very relatable,'' Golesh said.

But there's more.

"He knows how to recruit and he knows how to coach,'' Golesh said. "He sat next to me at UCF and Tennessee. For a young guy, he was never afraid to express his opinion or say, 'Hey, you're jacking this up.' He literally became my left hand and helped me a lot through game-planning.

"He was always a smart player, a captain, a guy who played through three knee surgeries. There was a toughness factor to him. I saw him grow as a teacher and we allowed him to teach a lot at Tennessee. He understands what we do on offense and knows how to teach it. I think he has it all and his future is incredibly bright. Hiring him was a no-brainer.''

Hudanick is immediately charged with developing a USF offensive line that has lost four primary starters, but returns Jennings, two more players with considerable playing time in 2022 and lots of promising newcomers.

"The actual number of scholarship bodies (before recruiting) was probably one of the smaller O-line groups in the country, so we've got to continue working and get that thing right,'' said Hudanick, who added that he most values intelligence and toughness in his prospective offensive linemen. "We had a lot of need for guys up front. But I'm super excited to get out there this spring to work with and develop our guys.''

Hudanick said he finds it ironic that he's at USF after investing so much time at UCF, but he feels the Bulls' program is ready to take off.

"There are two things you can control in life — your attitude and effort — and those are the things we'll harp on this spring,'' Hudanick said. "People talk about the need to rebuild, but I see it as being not that far away. We have enough talent in this locker room, and I feel we've brought in the missing pieces, to ultimately get this place back to where it should be.''

Hudanick hails from Harmony, Pa., about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh.

So how did he get to UCF? As a high-school sophomore, Hudanick received his first scholarship offer from a Temple University assistant coach.

"The one and only Allen Mogridge,'' Hudanick said with a smile.

Mogridge, who was USF's offensive line coach from 2020-22, soon shifted from Temple to UCF and his influence led Hudanick to Florida.

Hudanick's introduction to UCF — the 0-12 season of 2015.

But he also played for two American Athletic Conference championship teams, including the 2017 squad that finished 13-0 and defeated USF in the riveting 49-42 "War On I-4'' game at Orlando that ranks among the most compelling contests ever staged in the state of Florida.

"Two great teams, back and forth, and it still gives me chills,'' Hudanick said. "You can still check it out on YouTube. Amazing night.''

Hudanick also participated in the 2018 USF-UCF game at Ray-Jay, which will mostly be remembered for the horrendous injury to Knights' quarterback McKenzie Milton.

"An awful night … me and my parents went to the hospital afterward and, in fact, we spent the night in the hospital,'' Hudanick said. "I was so happy that KZ (Milton) was able to finish his career at Florida State. I think one day he's going to be one heck of a coach.''

Hudanick once had NFL aspirations, but played on an ACL injury through most of his senior year. Afterward, he had surgery and knew his playing career was done. He quickly transitioned to coaching. The former 317-pound offensive lineman now weighs about 250 pounds.

"I will always have fond memories of my final two years (at UCF) because we did a lot of winning, but I also know this place (USF) has every bit of potential to do the same thing,'' Hudanick said. "It's crazy where this college coaching thing can take you, but I am truly excited to be a part of the USF program.''

Note: He's Hoodie. Or Coach Hoodie.

Never just Tyler. Or Coach Hudanick.

"My senior year at UCF, our head coach (Josh Heupel) was naming me a captain and I had kind of noticed he didn't really know how to say my last name,'' Hudanick said. "So, he's announcing it in front of the team at one of our last fall camp practices. He was like, 'Tyler … Tyler … um … uh,' and I was like, 'Well, let's see how he butchers it this time.'

"Finally, Coach Heupel just said, 'Tyler Hoodie … yeah, Hoodie.' After that, everybody just called me Hoodie. It stuck. If you come to our building asking for Tyler, people will be like, 'Who?' But if you say, 'Hoodie,' everybody will know who you're talking about.''

Now it's up to Hoodie to make a name for himself as USF's offensive line coach.

"I'm on the fast track, being a young guy, but I promise you I'm ready to work, just like we all are,'' Hudanick said. "I've learned so much from Coach Golesh and I'm honored to be on this staff. I feel like some great days are ahead for us all.''

– Go Bulls –

05.31.23

05.24.23

05.12.23

05.09.23