Lloyd Bruce-Burgess was named the 15th head coach in program history on August 8, 2024. Bruce-Burgess brings experience coaching men’s tennis at Iowa, South Florida, Wichita State and Fresno Pacific—plus two seasons at UCF as assistant women’s tennis coach.
Bruce-Burgess continues his collaboration with newly named UCF director of tennis Bryan Koniecko whose Knight women’s tennis team has advanced to the NCAA Championship each of the last two seasons with Bruce-Burgess’ assistance.
During his debut season at the realm, Bruce-Burgess led the Knights to a historic inaugural campaign in the Big 12. Alongside his former player, Kareem Allaf, the tandem navigated UCF to a 7-0 start, the first in program history, before eventually attaining a 14-1 non-conference record, another school record. After being picked to finish tied for sixth in the coach's preseason poll, the Knights went 4-3 to place fourth, including wins over Baylor, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and BYU.
The Knights would go on to defeat No. 23 Florida in the first round of the NCAA tournament, securing the program its first over the Gators and second-ever qualification to the second round. Bruce-Burgess became the first coach to attain the latter in his first year, along with the second-best overall record (19-6), the ninth-best in the team's history. UCF was tabbed No. 24 in the ITA Rankings during the regular season, its highest position since 2021. The Knights would eventually finish the season ranked 28th (second-highest in program history) in the nation and third in the southeast region.
2023-24 Season Notables
- Ninth-best record in program history (19-6), the second-best percentage of any first-year coaching staff.
- Best seven-match start (7-0) and non-conference record (14-1).
- Defeated Florida in the NCAA tournament first round, its second NCAA tournament win in program history and first over Florida.
- Second-best performance in the NCAA Tournament from any program in Florida/Georgia.
- Advanced to the NCAA Tournament for the seventh time in program history.
- Lleyton Cronje/Santiago Giamichelle crowned ITA Southeast Regional Doubles Champions.
- 2024 recruiting class tabbed third in the nation (highest in the Big 12 and in program history).
- Placed five players on the ITA Singles/Doubles rankings.
In Bruce-Burgess’ first season with the Knights in 2022, the squad posted a 16-8 record and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Championship. UCF was the top seed in the American Athletic Conference Championship Tournament in his first season and reached the final of that event. His second season with UCF in 2023 also concluded with another NCAA Championship team appearance, as well as two players named to the AAC all-league team and a national ranking of 14th. UCF players in each of his seasons were rated as the highest-ranked singles players in the league.
Under Bruce-Burgess’ guidance, Marie Mattel earned two consecutive berths to the NCAA Singles Championship and was ranked as high as No. 30 in the Intercollegiate Tennis Association singles polls. Koniecko and Bruce-Burgess combined in 2023 to sign the second-ranked recruiting class in the country (by tennisrecruting.net), including two top-five-rated United States players.
“I am thrilled to announce that Lloyd will be the next men’s tennis coach at UCF,” said Koniecko. “Lloyd has been a valuable member of our staff for the last two years, and his passion for excellence is unparalleled. He has an impressive tennis background, with experience in coaching, playing, and recruiting. Lloyd is someone who genuinely cares for his players and will work tirelessly to build a championship team at UCF for years to come. I look forward to seeing him lead our program to new heights.”
Bruce-Burgess was named the UCF women's tennis assistant coach in July 2021. He came to UCF after two seasons as an assistant men's tennis coach at the University of Iowa, where in 2021 he helped the doubles team of Oliver Okonkwo and Will Davies to a No. 2 national ranking, the highest an Iowa doubles team has been ranked in program history. Okonkwo and Davies qualified for the NCAA Championship as the seventh doubles duo to do so in program history.
Under Bruce-Burgess' leadership, Kareem Allaf earned first-team All-Big Ten accolades for the second straight season in 2021 and became Iowa's all-time leader in wins, and Davies tied the program record for most doubles victories. In his first season at Iowa, Bruce-Burgess helped coach the Hawkeyes to a 12-2 start in 2020 and a program-best national ranking of No. 20--and the Hawkeyes were on pace to qualify for the program's first NCAA Championship before the season was canceled due to Covid-19.
Prior to Iowa, Bruce-Burgess served a short stint as an assistant at the University of South Florida for the 2019 fall campaign after serving as director of tennis for Genesis Health Clubs from 2013-19. He received director of the year honors within the health club system in 2015 and 2016.
Bruce-Burgess previously coached professional tennis, working with Johnanna Konta and Renata Zarazua on the Women’s Tennis Association tour. He served as a practice partner for Konta, who was ranked as high as No. 3 on the WTA tour and was a finalist in an Australian Open.
Bruce-Burgess spent one year in 2014 as a part-time volunteer assistant men’s tennis coach at Wichita State (18-9 record) after a year in 2013 as assistant men’s and women’s coach at Fresno Pacific. The Fresno Pacific men that year ranked No. 1 in the NAIA and the women third, as the program transitioned to NCAA Division II.
A native of Brockenhurst, England, Bruce-Burgess earned his communication studies degree in 2012 from Fresno Pacific where he was a part of the 2012 NAIA national runner-up squad (25-2 team mark). He was a two-time JUCO All-American at Cowley College (Arkansas City, Kansas) where he was ranked No. 3 and No. 2 by the NJCCA in singles and doubles, respectively, on a team ranked sixth nationally. He was also tabbed the ITA Region VI Player of the Year in 2010 thanks to records of 21-2 in singles and 14-8 in doubles.
As a junior player in the United Kingdom, Bruce-Burgess was ranked among the top 50 men’s players. In 2007, he qualified for the men’s British Tour Masters (the top 32 players in the country).
Collegiate Journey:
- 2008-10: Cowley College (Player)
- 2010-12: Fresno Pacific (Player)
- 2013: Fresno Pacific M/W (Assistant Coach)
- 2014: Wichita State M (Volunteer Assistant Coach)
- 2019: South Florida M (Volunteer Assistant Coach)
- 2020-21: Iowa M (Assistant Coach)
- 2021-23: UCF W (Assistant Coach)
- 2023-Present: UCF M (Head Coach)
Record by Season
2024: 19-6 (4-3 Big 12) | Conference Quarterfinals | NCAA Tournament Second Round
Email: lbburgess@athletics.ucf.edu