UCF offers basketball coach Johnny Dawkins a contract extension
UCF has offered a contract extension to men’s basketball coach Johnny Dawkins.
Jeff Goodman of The Field of 68 Network was the first to report the extension on Tuesday evening. UCF officials confirmed the report but said terms were still being finalized.
Dawkins, 60, just wrapped up his eighth season with the Knights, who finished 17-16 overall and 7-11 in the Big 12. It was the first season with the program transitioning from the American Athletic Conference.
Under Dawkins, UCF is 148-103 (59%) and 72-72 (50%) in conference play.
This upcoming season would have been his last under his current contract, amended in 2019 and paid him $1.7 million annually. This was near the bottom of the Big 12 coaches’ salaries per USA Today’s coaches salaries database.
Dawkins has taken UCF to the postseason in four of his eight seasons, including this year, as the Knights earned a bid to the National Invitational Tournament (NIT). The program previously played in the NIT in 2016-17 and 2022-23 and was within a point of upsetting No. 1 Duke in the second round of the 2018-19 NCAA Tournament.
UCF was picked to finish last in the Big 12 this season, but the Knights exceeded those expectations, earning seven wins in their first year, including a program-best three wins over ranked teams: No. 3 Kansas (Jan. 10), No. 23 Oklahoma (Feb. 3) and No. 23 Texas Tech (Feb. 10).
The program set records for ticket sales and attendance this season.
UCF recorded its first-ever win in the Big 12 Tournament on March 12, defeating Oklahoma State 77-62. The Knights lost in the second round to BYU 87-73. On March 19, they lost their first-round NIT game to instate rival USF 83-77.
After the season-ending loss, Dawkins was asked if he felt he did enough to return in 2023-24.
“I expect to be back here,” Dawkins said. “I have loved coaching UCF since Day 1, and I’ve put my whole heart into this university because they allowed me to be the coach here. I think the administration and everyone believe in me and what we’re doing here, and yet it will never end right for you unless you win a championship.”
The Knights return several key pieces from this past season, including guard Darius Johnson and Jaylin Sellers. Sellers, who led the team in scoring with 15.9 points per game, said his decision came down to his coach.
“Coach Johnny Dawkins is perhaps the best coach I’ve had in my life,” Sellers said. “With him believing in me, I never want to play for another coach in college basketball. He’s like another father figure to me. When I look into his eyes, I see me, and I’m pretty sure he sees a little bit of himself.”
Matt Murschel can be reached at mmurschel@orlandosentinel.com