Through three seasons as members of the Sun Belt Conference, UCF men’s soccer head coach Scott Calabrese has established his program as one of the strongest not only in one of the premier men’s soccer leagues in the nation, but among the country’s best overall.
UCF in 2025 rose to the top of the conference for the first time since joining its new league prior to the 2023 fall season, authoring a dominant three-match run throughout the conference tournament to claim the first Sun Belt Conference title in program history.
Completing the year with a final mark of 32nd overall in the NCAA’s final RPI rankings, UCF eclipsed the 10-win mark for the second time in three years, as its 11 wins represented the most in a single season for the program since the 2019 Knights earned 15 victories.
After beginning the season 2-5-1, Calabrese led his team to a remarkable second-half turnaround, as the Knights won nine of their final 13 games including triumphs over fourth-seeded Georgia Southern, top-seeded Kentucky and third-seeded Marshall in the conference tournament to claim their automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.
In claiming the fifth conference tournament title and eighth overall conference championship in program history, UCF recorded the program’s first Sun Belt Conference Tournament win, first multi-goal postseason comeback win since 2018, first postseason clean sheet since 2021, first postseason win over a ranked opponent since 2021, and first win over a No. 1 seed in a conference tournament.
The team’s winning efforts over then-No. 11 Georgia Southern Oct. 10, then-No. 19 Kentucky Nov. 12 and then-No. 12 Marshall Nov. 16 also clinched the first season in program history with at least three ranked wins.
UCF’s efforts clinched hosting honors for the first round of the NCAA Tournament, a contest the Knights won over Florida Atlantic by a 3-2 final score before a record crowd of 1,358 at the UCF Soccer Complex Nov. 20.
Among those recognized in postseason honors included Lilian Ricol (Sun Belt Conference Newcomer of the Year, All-Sun Belt Conference First Team), Clarence Awoudor (All-Sun Belt Conference First Team), Jem Hewlett (All-Sun Belt Conference Freshman Team) and Seiryu Ono (All-Sun Belt Conference Freshman Team). Ricol and Awoudor both garnered United Soccer Coaches First Team All-Region recognition, and Awoudor earned a spot on the United Soccer Coaches’ Third Team All-America list as well.
Awoudor finished his season as the NCAA Division I national leader with his 15 assists, setting a new UCF single-season program record as well, while Ricol’s 13 goals scored and 20 total points ranked second most in the Sun Belt overall in helping lead their squad through its conference title run.
Through three seasons in the Sun Belt, the Knights now boast an aggregate .604 win percentage over the last three seasons overall, including two 10-plus-win seasons, two NCAA Tournament appearances, one Sun Belt Conference championship, six United Soccer Coaches All-Region selections, nine All-Conference picks, and four major conference award winners.
The Knights previously kicked off their inaugural season in the Sun Belt in 2023 with an immediate statement victory, toppling the eventual 2023 National Champion and then-No. 9 Clemson Tigers on the road in their Aug. 24 season-opener by a 2-1 final score.
The winning effort, coupled with UCF’s 4-0-2 start overall, would help vault the Knights into the United Soccer Coaches national rankings from week one through the end of the season.
En route to earning the program’s first NCAA Tournament berth since the 2020-21 season, the Black and Gold also earned ranked draws with then-No. 4 West Virginia (2-2) and then-No. 11 FIU (2-2) before rattling off a season long six-game win streak Sept. 29–Oct. 27.
Rosa aided in keeping his program within national headlines even after the conclusion of the season, when he became the 13th in program history to be selected in the MLS SuperDraft with his second-round selection by the Colorado Rapids Dec. 19, 2023. He was also the sixth to be drafted in Calabrese’s UCF tenure, joining Gino Vivi (2023, LA Galaxy), Nick Taylor (2022, Orlando City), Yanis Leerman (2022, Chicago Fire), Cal Jennings (2020, FC Dallas) and Jonathan Dean (2020, Orlando City).
The early and immediate success for Calabrese’s Knights in the Sun Belt comes on the heels of a strong final six years as members of the American Athletic Conference from 2017-2022. UCF earned four AAC conference titles (three regular season, one tournament) under Calabrese, while authoring two double-digit win seasons, four seasons with at least nine wins and five with at least eight wins.
The most successful era of Calabrese’s run in The American came between the 2018 and 2019 seasons, when UCF produced 13-3-3 and 15-3-2 records, respectively, en route to consecutive AAC regular-season championships and NCAA Tournament berths. With Calabrese’s guidance, the Knights earned two Offensive Player of the Year awards (Jennings 2x), two Midfielder of the Year awards (Louis Perez, 2018; Yoni Sorokin, 2019), two Goalkeeper of the Year awards (Yannik Oettl 2x), one Freshman of the Year award (Gino Vivi, 2019), and two Coaching Staff of the Year awards (2018-19) in that span.
Calabrese spent the previous three seasons before coming to UCF at FIU, taking the program to its first NCAA Tournament appearance in over 10 years by capturing the 2015 Conference USA Championship. He helped the Panthers to consecutive appearances in the finals at the C-USA Championship.
The Newton, Conn., native has been known for building programs and started the program at East Tennessee State in 2008. In three short years, he guided the Bucs to the 2010 Atlantic Sun Championship behind 10 shutout victories, earning a berth in the NCAA Tournament. The 2010 NSCAA South Region Coach of the Year tallied four seasons with 10-or-more victories and aided ETSU to the 2013 NCAA Tournament.
Prior to taking the head coaching position at ETSU, Calabrese served four seasons as an assistant at Clemson from 2003-06. He aided the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, including the 2005 College Cup and a No. 1 national ranking. He additionally worked as the director of the Clemson Soccer Academy, which hosts over 1,800 youth soccer players a year.
As a part of the coaching staff at North Carolina from 2000-01, he helped the Tar Heels to a pair of Elite Eight appearances, which included the 2001 National Championship and 2000 ACC Championship.
He has ties to the central Florida area, beginning his career as an assistant coach at Stetson from 1998-99.
Calabrese also has a connection to UCF women's soccer head coach Tiffany Roberts-Sahaydak, who he coached professionally as a member of the Carolina Courage (WUSA) coaching staff in 2002. He helped guide the Courage as an assistant coach to the Founder's Cup that season.
Calabrese graduated from Bryant College with a degree in business administration. He also holds an "A" coaching license and is a Level I and II certified goalkeeping instructor with the NSCAA.
The Calabrese File
Hometown – Newton, Conn.
Family – Wife, Farrell; Children Kai, Lucca and Kingsley
Education – Bryant College, 1995
Head Coaching Highlights
- Eight NCAA Tournament Appearances (2010, 2013, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2020-21, 2023, 2025)
- Two NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 Appearances (2019, 2020-21)
- Five Conference Tournament Titles (A-Sun – 2010, 2013; C-USA – 2015, American – 2020-21, Sun Belt – 2025)
- Three regular-season conference titles (American – 2018, 2019, 2020-21)
- Three-time Conference Coach of the Year (A-Sun – 2010; C-USA – 2015, Sun Belt – 2023)
- Two-time Conference Coaching Staff of the Year (American – 2018, 2019)
- 10 years with 10+ victories
- 2010 NSCAA South Region Coach of the Year
- 2015 NSCAA Southeast Region Coach of the Year
- Began ETSU program in 2008
Assistant Coaching Highlights
- Five NCAA Tournament appearances
- Advanced to two NCAA College Cups
- 2001 National Champion (at North Carolina)
- Directed the Clemson Soccer Academy
- Coached professionally with the Carolina Courage (WUSA) and captured the 2002 Founder's Cup
Coaching Record
| Year | Overall Record | Win Percentage | Conference Record | Conference Win Percentage |
| 2008 (ETSU) | 6-10-1 | .382 | 1-7-1 | .167 |
| 2009 (ETSU) | 6-9-3 | .417 | 4-4-1 | .500 |
| 2010 (ETSU) | 15-6-0 | .714 | 7-2-0 | .778 |
| 2011 (ETSU) | 10-7-4 | .571 | 3-4-1 | .438 |
| 2012 (ETSU) | 10-6-4 | .600 | 5-2-1 | .688 |
| 2013 (ETSU) | 10-6-4 | .600 | 5-2-1 | .688 |
| 2014 (FIU) | 6-9-1 | .406 | 2-6-0 | .250 |
| 2015 (FIU) | 12-7-1 | .625 | 3-4-1 | .438 |
| 2016 (FIU) | 10-7-2 | .579 | 5-2-1 | .688 |
| 2017 (UCF) | 8-6-2 | .563 | 4-2-1 | .643 |
| 2018 (UCF) | 13-3-3 | .763 | 5-1-1 | .786 |
| 2019 (UCF) | 15-3-2 | .800 | 6-0-1 | .929 |
| 2020-21 (UCF) | 9-4-1 | .679 | 7-3-0 | .700 |
| 2021 (UCF) | 9-8-0 | .529 | 6-4-0 | .600 |
| 2022 (UCF) | 6-7-0 | .462 | 3-6-0 | .333 |
| 2023 (UCF) | 10-4-2 | .688 | 6-2-1 | .722 |
| 2024 (UCF) | 7-6-3 | .531 | 5-4-0 | .556 |
| 2025 (UCF) | 11-7-3 | .595 | 4-3-2 | .556 |
| Total | 173-115-36 | .590 | 81-58-13 | .576 |