Calabrese Inks Two-Year Contract ExtensionCalabrese Inks Two-Year Contract Extension

Calabrese Inks Two-Year Contract Extension

by Ryan Ladika

ORLANDO – UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir announced today that ninth-year Knights head coach Scott Calabrese has signed a two-year contract extension, keeping him at the helm of the UCF men’s soccer program through 2029. The new deal comes on the heels of back-to-back strong seasons in one of the nation’s premier men’s soccer conferences, further cementing Calabrese’s leadership in guiding the program to sustained success.

“I’m honored and excited to continue leading this incredible program. As we look ahead, I’m as motivated as ever to build on our previous successes. We’ve set the foundation for something special, and I’m thrilled to continue this journey with such a driven and passionate group of players, coaches and fans. I'm very grateful for the trust placed in me by Athletic Director Terry Mohajir and President Cartwright to continue to lead this program.

Scott CalabreseUCF Men's Soccer Head Coach

Calabrese through his first nine seasons with the Knights boasts a 77-41-13 record, good for a .637 winning percentage and the third-most wins by a head coach in program history behind Jim Rudy’s 129 and Bob Winch’s 112. He has led the Knights to four NCAA Tournament appearances and four American Athletic Conference championships throughout his UCF tenure.

“Scott has done a strong job building a nationally respected program that competes at the highest level. His leadership, vision, and ability to recruit and develop exceptional student-athletes have elevated UCF men’s soccer. We’re proud of what this team has accomplished under his guidance, and we’re excited for what’s ahead as he continues to lead the Knights.”

Terry MohajirUCF Athletics Director

The Black and Gold have seen seven members in total recognized on Sun Belt All-Conference teams over the last two seasons, including five selections in 2023 and two more in 2024. Four Knights were also bestowed 2023 United Soccer Coaches All-Southeast Region honors, in defender Zane Bubb, forward Lucca Dourado, defender Anderson Rosa and midfielder AJ Seals.

Since the program joined the Sun Belt Conference, the Knights have proven themselves against some of the nation’s best in the sport.

The Black and Gold earned back-to-back top-3 regular-season finishes in the Sun Belt in 2023 and 2024. In the program’s first season in the league, UCF secured the conference’s No. 2 overall seed and hosted both the Sun Belt Conference Tournament and first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

The Knights in 2023 also notably earned the first No. 1 national ranking in a regular-season poll in UCF Athletics history, aided by the team’s season-opening 2-1 victory on the road over the eventual national champion and then-ninth-ranked Clemson Tigers.

Calabrese was recognized for his team’s efforts with the 2023 Sun Belt Conference Coach of the Year award, while Knights freshman Saku Heiskanen garnered Sun Belt Conference Freshman of the Year honors and transfer sophomore Clarence Awoudor earned the league’s Newcomer of the Year award.

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SINGLE GAME & SEASON TICKETS

Single game and season tickets for men's soccer are on sale now! Tickets can be purchased online at ucfknights.com/tickets or by calling the ticket office at (407) 823-1000.

ABOUT UCF ATHLETICS

UCF is a proud member of the Big 12 Conference. Our mission is to positively transform the lives of our students academically, athletically, and personally through a nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program that enhances the reputation and visibility of the University. We strive to be Florida’s preeminent athletic program representing UCF and our community with distinction on the national stage as “Orlando’s Hometown Team”. To learn more about UCF and Athletics, please visit our websites at www.ucf.edu and www.ucfknights.com.