UCF MEN’S BASKETBALL
UCF men’s basketball head coach Johnny Dawkins has agreed to a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the Knights through the 2029-30 season, Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir announced Monday.
“I want to thank President Alexander N. Cartwright and Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir for their continued belief in our vision for UCF men’s basketball," said head coach Johnny Dawkins. "What we accomplished this season was a testament to the hard work of our student-athletes, coaches and staff as we continue establishing ourselves in the Big 12. I’m proud of the progress we’ve made and excited about where this program is headed. UCF has become home for my family, and I’m committed to continuing to build a program that our university and fans can be proud of.”
This past season, Dawkins led the Knights to the NCAA Tournament, marking just the second at-large berth in program history. UCF opened the 2025-26 season with a 12-1 start, the best under Dawkins. The Knights continued their success by finishing Big 12 play with a 9-9 record, the program’s best conference mark since joining the league ahead of the 2023-24 season. The Black and Gold finished the year 21-12 overall, marking the second consecutive 20-win season under Dawkins.
“Johnny has led our men’s basketball program with outstanding poise and class, said Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir. "The stability and continuity he has provided have been, in my opinion, a major reason for the program’s growth. As a result, we’re excited to extend his contract. He is a strong leader and an outstanding role model for our young men. Johnny is highly deserving of this extension, and we’re excited about the future of UCF men’s basketball under his leadership.
The 2025-26 campaign was one for the record books as the Knights averaged 80.7 points per game, the highest scoring average under Dawkins and the most by a Knights team in the Division I era. An 11-game winning streak, spanning from Florida A&M on Nov. 11 through Oklahoma State on Jan. 6, marked the longest winning streak of the Dawkins era and the program’s longest since the 2010-11 season.
The Black and Gold also tied a program record with three Top 25 wins, defeating No. 17 Kansas, No. 11 Texas Tech and No. 19 BYU. Those victories brought Dawkins’ career total at UCF to 12 wins over ranked opponents.
Those victories helped the Knights earn a No. 10 seed in the Big Dance where they faced No. 7 seed UCLA in Philadelphia, a narrow 75-71 loss to the Bruins. The NCAA Tournament berth was made even more impressive considering the unprecedented roster overhaul the Knights navigated entering the season. UCF was one of only two teams in the country, alongside Miami, to reach the NCAA Tournament without returning any scoring production from the previous year’s roster.
HIGH SCHOOL SPRING FOOTBALL
Here are the results for the 2026 high school spring football games:
Thursday, May 14
At Oviedo
Oviedo 35, Ocoee 8.
At The Master’s Academy
The Geneva School 10, Faith Christian 6.
The Geneva School 9, Trinity Prep 0.
The Geneva School 7, The Master’s Academy 7.
Trinity Prep 7, The Master’s Academy 6.
Faith Christian 14, Trinity Prep 8.
Faith Christian 14, The Master’s Academy 7.
Friday, May 15
At Lake Howell
Bishop Moore 21, The Villages 14.
Lake Howell 21, The Villages 21.
Bishop Moore 26, Lake Howell 13.
At Palmetto
Palmetto 38, Hagerty 7.
Wednesday, May 20
Lake Mary 24, Jones 24.
Lake Wales 48, Lake Brantley 35.
Thursday, May 21
Orangewood Christian 28, Bishop John Snyder 13.
Edgewater 35, Seminole 7.
Friday, May 22
Mount Dora Christian 14, Lyman 0.
Winter Springs 14, Orange City University 14.
ORLANDO SPEEDWORLD
Coming up at Orlando Speed World Dragway:
* Full Throttle Friday _ “All Welcome Test and Tune and Grudge Racing” with gates opening at 6 p.m. and racing from 6 p.m.-to-10:30 p.m. $20 General Admission or $30 to race. Kids 10-and-Under free.
* Saturday and Sunday _ “The KING of Event (Imports)” with gates opening at 10 a.m. and racing from 10:30 a.m.-to-5 p.m.
The Dragway information Hotline is at (407) 568-5522 and the website is at _ www.raceosw.com/dragway/.
SpeedWorld is located 17 miles east of Orlando in Bithlo at 19164 East Colonial Drive, between Orlando and Titusville on Highway 50 at the 520 Cocoa Cutoff.
SANFORD ADULT SOFTBALL
Here is the schedule for this week in the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department Adult Softball Spring League.
The Semi-Co-Ed/Fun League on Wednesday has The West End Trading Company vs. Parkway Punishers at 6:30 p.m. and Throwbacks vs. Longhorns at 7:30 p.m. Pat's Liquor, FedUp and Bucks will have the Bye.
Everyone is invited to watch the games for free at Pinehurst Park on West 24th Street.
For more information contact Dominic Pascuzzo, City of Sanford Recreation Supervisor, at the City of Sanford Parks and Recreation Department at 407-688-5120, extension 5004; Fax _ 407-688-5121; facebook.com/SanfordFLCityGovt; instagram.com/cityofsanfordfl; visit the city website _ www.sanfordfl.gov _ or email: [email protected].
UCF FOOTBALL
UCF football, the Big 12 Conference and its TV partners have announced game times and networks for the first three weeks of the 2026 college football season, along with additional weeknight games.
Five of the Knights’ 2026 contests, including four at home, had kickoff times and networks announced in Wednesday afternoon’s release.
The 10th edition of the Space Game will air on ESPN as the Knights, better known as the Citronauts for the annual mission, host Baylor on Friday, Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m.
The home slate wraps up on Friday, Nov. 20 with a 6 p.m. kickoff against Iowa State on FS1 for Senior Knight. It will be the Cyclones’ first visit to Acrisure Bounce House. Iowa State has been to Orlando once before, earning a 42-41 victory over then-No. 15 Miami in the 2024 Pop-Tarts Bowl.
UCF’s non-conference road game at Pittsburgh on Saturday, Sept. 12 will air nationally on ESPN2 at 3:30 p.m. from Acrisure Stadium, which doubles as the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will mark the first time since 2023 the Black and Gold suit up inside an NFL stadium.
The Knights’ two non-conference home games against Bethune-Cookman on Thursday, Sept. 3 and Georgia State on Saturday, Sept. 19 will both kick off at 7 p.m. on ESPN+.
UCF SOFTBALL
After helping lead her squad to the most prolific offensive season in program history, junior second baseman Sierra Humphreys, already duly-recognized for her efforts this season, has now brought to Orlando an honor accomplished just once before by a Knight.
Humphreys, an All-Big 12 First Team and NFCA All-Region First Team selection in 2026, has now become the second player in program history to earn NFCA All-America recognition, as announced by the organization Wednesday evening.
The Corona, California, native was added to the NFCA’s All-America Third Team, cementing her place in program lore alongside UCF Hall-of-Famer Shelby Turnier, who earned NFCA All-America First Team status in 2015.
Humphreys, in just her first year as an everyday second baseman after spending her first two collegiate seasons at third base, enjoyed the strongest year of her standout UCF tenure thus far, starting each of the Knights’ 61 games as the Black and Gold marched toward the second NCAA Super Regional berth in program history.
She set single-season career bests in average (.379), on-base percentage (.454), slugging percentage (.712), runs scored (48), total hits (67), doubles (15), home runs (14), total bases (126) and RBI (57), and matched her previous season best in walks (26).
Among the program’s all-time single-season leaderboards, Humphreys this year ranked fourth in RBI, fourth in double plays turned, fifth in average, fifth in slugging percentage, sixth in total bases, seventh in on-base percentage, seventh in runs scored, seventh in home runs, and tied for ninth in doubles.
She also enters her senior season next spring representing the program’s second-leading hitter by average all-time, as her career .359 batting average trails only Knights Hall-of-Famer Stephanie Best’s .384 mark, and she also ranks among career program leaders in on-base percentage (3rd, .431), slugging percentage (.4th, .582), double plays turned (7th, 35), assists (9th, 311), and home runs (10th, 21).
She finished her season ranking among Big 12 Conference leaders in defensive assists (5th, 124), total bases (7th, 126), doubles (8th, 15), RBI (9th, 57), slugging percentage (13th, .712), total hits (14th, 67), and home runs (15th, 14).
ORLANDO CITY
Orlando City SC (4-9-2, 14 points) dropped a 6-2 result to FC Cincinnati (5-5-5, 20 points) on Saturday night at TQL Stadium in its final match before the MLS season pauses for the FIFA World Cup2026™.
Goal Highlights:
* 16’ - Martín Ojeda (Penalty Kick) – ORL 1, CIN 0.
* 42’ - Kenji Mboma Dem (Evander) – ORL 1, CIN 1.
* 45+3’ - Evander (Pavel Bucha) – CIN 2, ORL 1.
* 48’ - Martín Ojeda – ORL 2, CIN 2.
* 52’ - Kenji Mboma Dem (Evander, Kévin Denkey) – CIN 3, ORL 2.
* 58’ - Evander (Matt Miazga, Obinna Nwobodo) – CIN 4, ORL 2.
* 77’ - Kevin Denkey (Evander, Bryan Ramírez) – CIN 5, ORL 2.
* 90+1’ - Tom Barlow (Ender Echenique, Pavel Bucha) – CIN 6, ORL 2.
Next Match:
Orlando City will now enter a two-month break as MLS pauses its season for the FIFA World Cup 2026™, with the Club’s next match taking place on July 22 against the San Jose Earthquakes at PayPal Park. Kickoff from PayPal Park is set for 10:30 p.m. on Apple TV. The Lions will next be home on July 25 against Nashville SC.
For more information on Orlando City SC, visit OrlandoCitySC.com or follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and TikTok.
ORLANDO PRIDE
Nicole Payne scored her first career goal as the Orlando Pride (4-5-2, 14 points) defeated San Diego Wave FC (7-4-1, 22 points) on Sunday (May 24) evening at Snapdragon Stadium.
Scoring Summary:
* 45+3’ - Nicole Payne – ORL 1, SD 0.
The Orlando Pride (5-5-2, 17 points) defeated Bay FC (3-6-2, 10 points) 3-1 on Friday night in their final match before the NWSL pauses while the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup is staged across North America. Orlando remains unbeaten against Bay FC all time, now holding a 4-0-1 record against the 2024 expansion side.
Goal Highlights:
* 4’ - Barbra Banda (Luana) – ORL 1, BAY 0.
* 7’ - Caroline Conti – ORL 1, BAY 1.
* 51’ - Barbra Banda (Summer Yates) – ORL 2, BAY 1.
* 55’ - Cori Dyke (Barbra Banda) – ORL 3, BAY 1.
Next Match:
The Pride will now enter a month-long break as the NWSL pauses its season for the Men’s FIFA World Cup 2026™. Following the June international break, the Pride will travel to California to face Angel City FC on July 3 at BMO Stadium at 10 p.m. on Prime Video.
