The UCF Knights men's basketball team represents the University of Central Florida in the Big 12 Conference. Throughtout their history, the Knights have made a Final Four appearance once in 1978 at the Division II level. The Knights host their home games at the Addition Financial Area near Orange County, Florida. The UCF Knights have made the NCAA tournament five times in 1994, 1996, 2004, 2005 and 2019 respectively.
UCF Men's Basketball Coach 2025
Johnny Dawkins: Head Coach
Johnny Dawkins, a seasoned figure in basketball, leads the charge as the head coach for the UCF men's basketball team. Dawkins, a prominent name in the sport, assumed the coaching mantle in 2016, bringing with him a wealth of experience both as a player and a coach. Dawkins was previously the head coach at Stanford from 2008-2016.
Johnny Dawkins' physical attributes
| Age | September 28, 1963 (61 years old) |
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) |
| Weight | 165 lb (75 kg) |
UCF men’s basketball head coach year by year
Since the inception of organized basketball in 1969, the University of Central Florida (UCF) has seen seven head coaches at the helm. Over the course of 44 seasons, the Knights have competed in close to 1,200 games on the court.
| Tenure | Coach |
| 1969–1983 | Torchy Clark |
| 1983–1985 | Chuck Machock |
| 1985–1989 | Phil Carter |
| 1989–1993 | Joe Dean Jr. |
| 1993–2010 | Kirk Speraw |
| 2010–2016 | Donnie Jones |
| 2016–present | Johnny Dawkins |
UCF Men's Basketball Coaching Staff 2025
| Position | Name |
| Head Coach | Johnny Dawkins |
| Associate Head Coach | Robbie Laing |
| Associate Head Coach | Mamadou N'Diaye |
| Assistant Coach/Recruiting Coordinator | Tyson Waterman |
| Assistant Coach | Adam Hood |
Associate head coaches
Robbie Laing
Tenure: April 2016 - Present
Robbie Laing, serving as the Associate Head Coach since 2016 under the tutelage of Johnny Dawkins, embodies dedication and strategic acumen in his role. His contributions have been pivotal in the Knights' journey to success, marked by a commendable overall record and landmark achievements on the court. In September 2024, he was promoted to the position of associate head coach.
Mamadou N'Diaye
Tenure: June 2021 - Present
Mamadou N'Diaye, a seasoned presence in the coaching realm, is responsible for the forwards on the UCF roster. The Senegal native was promoted to associate head coach in September 2024.
Assistant Coaches
Tyson Waterman
Tenure: July 2023 - Present
Waterman was hired as the assistant coach during the 2023/24 season and the program found success in his first year. The Black and Gold earned three ranked wins in a single season, the most in the program's history. Before his arrival in Orlando, Waterman spent five years as an assistant coach at Wichita State.
Adam Hood
Tenure: May 2024 - Present
After spending the last eight seasons at UTSA, Hood was announced as the latest addition to the Knights' coaching staff this summer.
UCF men's basketball support staff 2025
| Name | Position |
| Kelvin Johnson | Special Assistant to the Head Coach |
| Jeff Chapman | Video Coordinator/Assistant Director of Operations |
| Kylee Pufko | Executive Assistant |
| Charles Stephenson | Head Strength Coach, Men's Basketball |
| Matthew Kabay | Athletic Trainer |
| Ashtyn Bradley | Graduate Assistant |
| Tyler Kriminger | Graduate Assistant |
| Max Forstot | Graduate Assistant |
FAQ's On UCF basketball coach
A. Johnny Dawkins serves as the head coach of UCF Men's Basketball.
A. Johnny Dawkins, the head coach of UCF Men's Basketball, is 60 years old, stands 6 feet 2 inches tall, and weighs 165 pounds.
A. Johnny Dawkins has been coaching at UCF since 2016.
A. Tyson Waterman and Adam Hood serve as assistant coaches for UCF Men's Basketball.
