Bryan joined the full-time staff at ASSA in May 2022 and currently serves as the Senior Academic Success Coach for the Men and Women’s Tennis teams as well as the Tutor and Learning Assistant Coordinator.

He first joined the ASSA family in 2014 as a Content Tutor in science and math while pursuing his undergraduate degree in Secondary Science Education. After graduating and serving a full year as a high school teacher in the Florida public schools, he decided to pursue his true calling in student-athlete academic support. He earned his master’s degree in Higher Education with a concentration in College Athletics Leadership from Messiah University in December 2021. While pursuing his masters, Bryan continued his faithful service as a tutor with ASSA until his promotion to Assistant Learning Specialist and Assistant Tutor Coordinator in the spring of 2022. Subsequently, Bryan assumed his current position in May of 2022. His journey with ASSA is a testimony to the principles of loyalty, faith, patience, vocational discovery, and passion for student-athlete academic success.

Originally from Anchorage Alaska, Bryan grew up camping, skiing, and fishing and can often be spotted fly-fishing Florida’s many ponds and lakes. In his spare time, he enjoys watching a wide variety of college sports, serving in his church, grilling, playing the drums, and spending time with his family and friends.

Derick Brown joined UCF in fall 2012 as a strategic tutor and then intern with the Football program. He went on to become a Learning Specialist and Academic Advisor for the Women’s Track & Field/Cross Country program. He is currently the Assistant Director of ASSA while serving as the Lead Learning Specialist and Academic Advisor for the UCF men’s basketball team. Prior to UCF, Derick spent time at the University of Arkansas as graduate assistant working primarily with the Men’s Basketball program.

Brown earned Academic All-Conference accolades thrice while playing basketball at Pfeiffer University in North Carolina where he earned a degree in Sports Management. He completed his master’s degree in Recreation and Sports Management at the University of Arkansas in 2009.

Derick is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas and is married his college sweetheart, Ashana.  They have two children, Azaria and Derick, Jr. In his spare time, he likes to spend time with his wife and children, play basketball, cook, and play the PlayStation4. Derick is also an active member of the N4A.

Tara Helton joined the ASSA staff as Associate Director in August 2016 and was promoted to Director in January 2018. At UCF, Tara serves as the lead advisor for the football team and oversees the day to day operations of the program. Prior to UCF, Tara spent eleven years at Marshall University where she was the Associate Athletic Director for Academic Services, responsible for the daily operation and oversight of the Buck Harless Student Athlete Program.

Under her direction, Marshall’s athletic teams continuously improved their grade point average, graduation success rate and APR. More than 50% of all student athletes earned a 3.00 or higher every term beginning in the 2006 academic year until her departure in June 2016. Marshall athletes were also well represented at the Conference level placing in the top six in the number of recipients on the Commissioners Honor Roll. For the 2015-16 school year, Marshall finished first in Conference USA with 60 recipients of the Commissioners Academic Medal, which recognizes student athletes who have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.75 or higher. In addition to her academic duties, Tara was also an adjunct faculty member in the undergraduate Counseling Education Program for eight years.

Tara received both her Bachelors of Art and Master’s degree from Marshall University, and is married to fellow UCF employee Brad Helton. They have two children, Ryan and Haley.