Official Release - April 8, 2026
ORLANDO - The third in a series of hires for new UCF women's basketball head Gabe Lazo, Josh Theis has been named an assistant coach and video coordinator for the Knights.
A familiar face for coach Lazo, Theis served as the director of video and creative content at Tennessee for the past five seasons, which followed two years as a graduate assistant with the Lady Vol program.
Theis worked hand-in-hand with Lazo to create graphics, videos and other digital content for social media. This past season, the Cincinnati native played a larger role in opponent scouting reports, along with coordinating all aspects of film exchange and video editing.
"Working alongside Josh over the past two years, I’ve seen first hand how passionate he is for the game and his energy for elevating the experience of our student-athletes," said Lazo. "He’s a versatile up and coming star who will make an impact across the board, he has the qualities that we’ll be instilling in Orlando!
Lazo and Theis, who spent the past two seasons in Knoxville alongside each other, led the charge in one of the nation’s top recruiting efforts. In 2025, Tennessee secured the nation's top ranked singing class, sealing the signatures of five ESPN SportsCenter Next 100 athletes. Along with the premier high school class, the Lady Vols also reeled in the top portal class of the 2025 campaign.
"I am super grateful for this opportunity Coach Lazo has given me. After working with him for two years, I have had the chance to see his ability to develop, connect, and create impactful relationships with student-athletes," said Theis. "He truly is a players coach and cares about everyone outside of basketball, he has great energy and presence on the basketball court. I am ready to get to work! Go Knights!"
Before his time in Knoxville, Theis attended Xavier and earned his undergraduate degree in graphic design in 2019. He spent four years with the Xavier men’s basketball team as a student assistant, working with a squad that made the NCAA Elite Eight in 2017 and won the BIG EAST regular season title in 2018.
During his two years at Tennessee, Theis continued his education and graduated with a master's degree in sports management from Tennessee in May 2021.