UCF men’s tennis coach John Roddick announces resignation

UCF men’s tennis coach John Roddick announced his resignation Friday following seven years at the helm, the school said in a statement.

It’s unclear what led to Roddick’s decision to depart UCF as the Knights enter their first year in the Big 12 Conference.

“We’re extremely grateful for all that John has done with both our tennis programs,” UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir said in the release. “He helped our men’s squads achieve new accomplishments in terms of NCAA success. We wish him all the best in his next chapter.”

Roddick also had oversight of the UCF women’s tennis squad as the school’s director of tennis.

Shortly after Roddick announced his resignation, Mohajir named UCF women’s tennis coach Bryan Koniecko the new director of tennis. In that role Koniecko will have oversight for both the men’s and women’s programs at UCF while continuing as UCF women’s tennis coach.

“He is highly thought of nationally in the tennis community,” Mohajir said about Koniecko. “Bryan along with our administration will work to hire a new men’s coach and Bryan will be very active with both programs.”

Coaching the men’s side primarily, Roddick posted an overall record of 93-62 while guiding the team to three NCAA tournament appearances (2017, ’19, ’21) and an American Athletic Conference title in 2021.

“I would like to thank Terry Mohajir and Danny White for the opportunity to represent UCF,” Roddick said. “It was an exciting time to be at UCF and witness the trajectory of UCF athletics.

“I am grateful to all of my players who worked so hard to put UCF tennis on the map. I’m very proud of all of those guys.”

Roddick is the third UCF coach to resign from their post this year.

In mid-April, former Knights rowing coach Becky Cramer stepped down after a leave of absence that capped off her 20 seasons at the school.

The same month, long-time UCF volleyball coach Todd Dagenais resigned to become the first head coach of the Pro Volleyball Federation’s Atlanta franchise.

In May, Mohajir promoted acting head coach Jenny Maurer to volleyball head coach and the next month hired Texas assistant coach Mara Allen to lead the rowing team into the Big 12.

Although not a resignation, a coaching change was made for UCF baseball in May as well. Mohajir fired Greg Lovelady following one post-season appearance in seven years. Former Knights player and assistant coach Rich Wallace was hired to replace Lovelady in June.

Roddick’s replacement is the fourth coach Mohajir will have to hire this year and his sixth overall since he became UCF’s AD in February 2021.

Prior to Roddick’s arrival at UCF in 2016, he spent seven seasons as men’s tennis head coach at the University of Oklahoma. Before coaching in the Big 12, Roddick served as the ATP Tour Coach for his brother Andy Roddick.

Roddick’s first collegiate coaching jobs were as an assistant coach at Florida State (1999-2000) and Georgia (’00-02).

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.