ORLANDO, Fla. – UCF announced on Friday that it has signed head coach Josh Heupel to a contract extension.

Heupel’s new deal keeps him with the Knights through January 2024.

“I am truly honored to have the opportunity to lead this group of young men and represent this great university,” Heupel said. “My family and I have found an amazing community to call home. I am looking forward to the future of this program. I can’t thank Danny White and Dale Whittaker enough for their support and belief in what we’re doing.”

In his first season as UCF's head coach, Heupel led the Knights to an undefeated regular season and an American Athletic Conference championship.

Heupel was named head coach at UCF on Dec. 5, 2017.

“We’re very proud and extremely appreciative of the job Josh and his staff have done since taking over our program just a little over one year ago,” UCF Athletics Director Danny White said. “What they have accomplished is nothing short of amazing. Winning one college football game is difficult. Winning all 12 so far this season is unbelievable."

White said increased expectations from the previous year, in which the Knights were also undefeated and claimed the national championship, made the job more difficult.

"We are building a perennial Top 25 program and the future largest fan base in college football," White said. "There is no better coach, and no better person, for me to partner with in that effort than Josh Heupel. Knight Nation is so very fortunate to have the Heupel family in black and gold."

The No. 7-ranked Knights will play No. 11 LSU in the 2019 PlayStation Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1 in Glendale, Arizona.