After a successful debut season in 2002 in which Kruczek's team finished 7-5 and earned second place in the MAC East, UCF struggled mightily in 2003, going 3-9. Starting quarterback Ryan Schneider was dismissed from the team for academic violations and UCF struggled to a 3-7 record before Kruczek was dismissed with two games remaining in the season. After a humiliating loss to MAC bottom dweller Eastern Michigan, Kruczek was fired despite having signed a three-year contract extension at the start of the season.