From JUCO to UCF Captain: Kevin Schoneboom’s Journey to Leadership

ORLANDO – For UCF senior captain and right-handed pitcher Kevin Schoneboom, the journey to Division I baseball was never guaranteed. Long before becoming a leader for the Knights, Schoneboom was a kid from Arlington, Texas, who nearly chose a completely different future. Growing up in a family where college was never viewed as the expected path, Schoneboom believed he would follow in his father’s footsteps and drive trucks for a living. Baseball, however, continued opening doors, eventually giving him an opportunity to chase something bigger.

Raised in Arlington, Schoneboom was introduced to the game almost as soon as he could walk. His father, who played through high school, put a baseball in his hand at a young age and quickly helped spark a love for the sport. Some of his earliest memories still revolve around T-ball fields, pulling on baseball pants for the first time and playing with his friends.

At the time, though, baseball was simply something he loved doing. College baseball was never part of the long-term vision growing up. It was not until his junior year of high school, while playing summer ball for the Banditos, that the possibility of continuing his career beyond high school began to feel realistic.

That realization came during a tournament in Arizona, when Schoneboom delivered seven innings against a lineup filled with Division I commits. For the first time, he could see himself competing at that level.

His path forward still looked different from many others. While Division I walk-on opportunities existed, including interest from Houston, Schoneboom and his family believed junior college offered the best opportunity to develop and play immediately. His father consistently emphasized the importance of trusting his instincts and choosing growth over status.

That mindset carried Schoneboom to Northeast Texas Community College, where the demanding nature of junior college baseball helped shape both the pitcher and person he would become. Days routinely began before sunrise and ended after long hours of class, practice and workouts. The grind forced him to mature quickly and taught him what it truly meant to work for an opportunity.

JUCO also transformed his development on the mound. Growing up primarily as a shortstop, Schoneboom had not spent much time pitching before college. The extended workload and daily repetitions gave him the opportunity to fully learn the position, refine his mechanics and understand the mental side of the game. More importantly, it taught him to stop obsessing over numbers and focus instead on daily progress and preparation.

Challenges eventually followed during his junior college career. At one point, Schoneboom lost his starting role and endured multiple difficult outings out of the bullpen. The setbacks forced him to confront whether baseball was truly the right path. Instead of walking away, he learned to simplify the game and leaned on the people who had guided him throughout his career.

By the time the recruiting process opened again, Schoneboom had opportunities to remain closer to home in Texas. Instead, he chose to challenge himself by moving away from familiarity and comfort. That decision ultimately led him to UCF.

The moment Schoneboom stepped on campus in Orlando, the program immediately felt different. Growing up vacationing in Florida, the environment felt familiar, but it was the people and long-term development plan presented by the coaching staff that convinced him UCF was the right fit. The program’s resources, including the pitching lab, strength staff and nutrition center, reinforced the belief that he could continue developing both on and off the field.

The transition into the program happened quickly. Veteran leaders such as Kris Sosnowski immediately welcomed him into the program, while the support from UCF fans following his commitment showed him the strength of the community surrounding the program. Among the many junior college transfers who arrived around the same time, Schoneboom became the only one who stayed, a decision rooted in the loyalty and trust his father had instilled in him years earlier.

That same consistency eventually helped establish Schoneboom as one of the team’s leaders. Named a senior captain, he embraced the responsibility not through the title, but through daily actions and accountability. Whether it is answering questions from younger teammates, handling difficult moments, or taking on additional innings out of the bullpen, Schoneboom has become someone teammates rely on.

He credits much of that mindset to former high school coach Bobby Johnson, who first taught him what the daily grind of baseball should look like and helped him fall in love with the process of improvement. Even now, Johnson remains one of his closest mentors, speaking with him regularly through both success and adversity.

For Schoneboom, leadership ultimately comes down to consistency. He believes teammates deserve the same energy and accountability regardless of personal performance, a mentality that has helped him balance individual struggles with the responsibility of leading a team pursuing postseason success.

The ultimate goal remains Omaha, but Schoneboom understands the process required to get there. Every bullpen session, every outing, and every daily routine serves as part of something bigger.

Wearing the UCF uniform has also given him something far beyond baseball. As an only child living far from home, Schoneboom said the program provided him with a second family.

Off the field, Schoneboom is pursuing a degree in history, a subject he has long enjoyed and one that aligns with his plans to coach baseball in the future. He hopes to continue playing professionally after UCF before eventually transitioning into either college or high school coaching.

When his baseball journey eventually comes to an end, Schoneboom hopes the legacy he leaves behind is simple.