Here is the full transcript of George O'Leary's press conference:
"Why am I excited? First of all, I think it's a great opportunity. New challenges. When I met Dr. Hitt regarding the job, he gave me some time to think about it. What do I want to do? As a head football coach, my time is very valuable as will be my AD job. I think the big thing is this, and the reason I'm taking the challenge on, is because of the welfare of the student-athletes. I think the big thing as far as student-athletes are concerned, I'm a firm believer in academics, that they do well, playing for championships athletically and that they grow socially and maturity-wise before they leave school here.
"Obviously I'll be involved with staff and the direction we want to head. I think the growth of the school is of major importance as far as I'm concerned. Not just locally, but nationally in keeping us competitive academically and athletically. What we need to be doing. What we should be doing. I do want to say, I want to congratulate Todd (Stansbury). I think he did a great job here. Obviously he's leaving for a place he was at. I do wish him well as I'm sure you all do. But again, I'm looking forward to the job. I will be getting together with staff regarding what direction we're heading.
"There's not a lot to fix. If you know my history as far as how I do operate, the people who work will flourish, the people that don't work, will not. That's how I've been. My career has always been based on leadership, organization, detail, accountability, responsibility and the one keyword: Trust.
"The one thing I look at as far as the school is concerned, something's that always bothered me is ownership. I think each and every one of us has to take ownership of our programs, of all the programs here. I do. I buy a box for the basketball team. I buy season tickets for baseball. I may be afar, but I've caught most sports. The only sport I haven't caught is rowing. I haven't gotten that jet ski started yet. Other than that, I do have a great interest in what's going on. I will listen as far as some of the issues you may have, but that's all I'll do. I will make decisions based on what I think is best for the athletic department and the university. I think everybody that has been around me understands what direction I need to head, and I have an interest in all sports. I really do. That we're competitive in all of them. That we compete for championships because that's what we need to be doing. I think the key right now is education and national growth. I think that's the direction we need to be heading."
After that, it was time for a few questions from the media.
On whether he thought about being AD before this opportunity arose:
"Not really. The only reason this became an opportunity was because of the right time and place. It so happened I was here. I've been here, this is my 12th season. As a head football coach, I pretty much have seen everything. This will be going into my 47th year in coaching and being in athletics. There's not much I haven't seen in all sports. I thought it would be a great challenge. I'm looking forward to sitting down and putting my teeth in a lot of stuff that we have going on right now, the projects we have going on. Other than that, I'm here to serve and to help.
On whether he wants the job on a permanent basis:
"I don't know. Right now I'm going to take the job and do what I can do with it. Again as I said, there's not much I'm going to have to do. Hopefully. When I sit down and find out where everything is, I may have to act more. Right now, I think everything is in place. I think Todd did a great job as far as making sure we have a destiny, somewhere to go as far as the programs are concerned. I don't know. I just work month-to-month and I'll make a decision later whether it's something I'm really interested in. Right now I have a great interest in winning championships in all sports and helping administration as much as I can with the growth of the program."
On whether this is a step in the direction of ending a career as head coach and stepping into the AD role:
"I've always said that I'll get out of coaching when I feel I'm not efficient enough. It'll be the same thing this year. If I feel that we're efficient, I'll continue. Again, I'm a head football coach and athletic director, I will make sure that both jobs are done extremely well. If I feel I'm inefficient in any of those areas, then I'll react to it."
On being a guy "not comfortable with keeping a seat warm," asking whether there are issues he wants to act on:
"I want to see what's going on from a total picture first. I have an idea, but I want to hear from people involved in the situation, decisions that have been made as far as what's taken place. Again, there's only so much you can do. I'm not one to sit down a lot. There are CEO and COOs. I guess I'm an COO."
On juggling the head coach and AD responsibilities, whether there will be "acting head coach" on days he may be away from the football office:
"What? Acting head coach? My responsibility is to win football games. I won't shirk that duty. You can take that to the bank. I won't shirk my athletic director responsibilities. Obviously I have to guide my time. There's only so many sunrises and sunsets. I think you have to utilize them the best way you can and I will do that."
On keeping programs like "Knights Without Borders:"
"I don't know. I've got to look at all that, see what we want to attack next. I think that's something up for discussion."
On the impact on recruiting, whether he would have to take a step back:
"I think recruiting has actually gotten easier now because they tightened up the months (for head coaches). In December you're not allowed out. Actively as a head coach, you really only have three weeks on the road you can recruit. We've been fortunate enough to be in bowl games. I don't forsee that being a problem."
On the biggest challenge as interim AD and remaining head coach:
"I see it as an opportunity, not a challenge. I think basically I'm looking forward to the opportunity. Every day is always a new adventure in coaching anyway. Coaches will tell you that. I think there will be decisions made, some people may agree with, some people may not. I'll make all decisions based on what's best for UCF."
On whether he has a role in choosing a permanent AD:
"That's not my decision to make. That's Dr. Hitt and whoever else he has on the committee."
Would he like input?
"I'm sure I'll be asked for some input, but I won't go looking for it."
When he did he alert his staff?
"I haven't told them yet because I thought it was a secret. It was until yesterday. I met over the weekend on it. Come to the decision that would be a good thing for the program and a good thing for the university. I haven't addressed my own coaching staff yet regarding it. They all got the emails that were sent out today."
On whether GOL has spoken with Barry Alvarez or Tom Osborne about how they transitioned from coach to AD:
"No. I think it just happened at the right opportunity. I think Barry was looking for that job. Tom wasn't. I just think it's being in the situation I was in and the opportunity presented itself. I'm going to take advantage of it and see what we can get done with the growth of the program. Continue the great growth that we've had."
On Gene McDowell, who also was a coach/AD at UCF:
"We'll be honoring Gene this season with an endowed scholarship, something that's well deserved."
On whether he was reluctant to take on the AD role, thinking it may take away from football:
"I think you go back and forth. Once you make a decision, I'm not one to look around and see who's chasing me. Once I make a decision, that's pretty much how I'll stay. It was done over the weekend. Again, after talking to my family about time and what they expect. I think it's the right decision for the school right now and I know I'll be making the right decisions regarding a lot of situations."
How soon will he speak to the other head coaches?
"I have a meeting scheduled at 2 o'clock with the (football) seniors. I've got to see what's going on. There's a staff meeting on Thursday. I've got to get with Todd and see what the plans are so I can address everybody."
What would you say to any football fan who may be feeling some concern that the coaching in the football program could be shortchanged by taking on these added responsibilities?
"I would say they don't know me very well. I think the proof's always in the pudding as far as what you're doing there. I would basically not answer a question regarding fans that are asking questions like that. I think it'll come out in the end regarding the season is concerned. Again, they all have friends in the program they can deal with talking about just what Coach O'Leary is going to do, where he's going to spend his time. I would not have even looked at this job if I couldn't be fair to both situations."
One-on-one time:
"As I said earlier in the press conference, I think it's just the opportunity presented itself. Right time, right place. Again, I've been very happy here coaching football. I'm always looking for new challenges as far as what we want to look at. I'm anxious to put my teeth into some of the job description as an AD and see where we can go from there."
Another question regarding the direction of the program:
"I think those will later after I've sat down with staff and talked to them about some of the direction and some of the things. I'm sure there's things I'll look at later on. I'm not a knee-jerk reaction guy. I'll sit back and see what's best for the university."
On delegating responsibility:
"No, not at all. I expect to be at every practice with the same sense of urgency I coach with. That's the same way I'll attack the AD job."
On rumors he's nearing the end of his career as head coach:
"I'm going to basically always do the same thing, when I feel I'm not efficient in what I'm doing then I'll be the first one to tell you see you on the first tee box. Right now I'm enjoying what I'm doing, I enjoy the players and the camaraderie. In the same way, this new opportunity with the AD job, it's more hours of me working and doing something I love to do."
On what attracted him to take on the AD role:
"I have a great interest in the welfare of the student-athletes, academically, athletically, social maturity. I know what I can do. I've been around athletics all my life. Probably be as much help as anybody they could look at in helping the athletes reach their goal and meanwhile attain the goals of UCF."
