UCF adds 14th head coach in the program’s history

Photo Courtesy of UCF AA

UCF announced the hire of Gabe Lazo as the next head coach for women’s basketball in a press release on Saturday, five days after dismissing Sytia Messer.

Lazo was added to LSU head coach Kim Mulkey’s staff as an assistant coach on Tuesday, then announced as the head coach for the Knights days later.

Terry Mohajir, UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics, said Lazo’s leadership and vision make him the ideal fit in today’s college landscape.

“He’s a proven competitor at every level of the game, with deep Florida roots, an elite ability to connect with people, and a track record of developing student-athletes on and off the court,” Mohajir said in the press release. “We’re confident he will build a program capable of competing for Big 12 championships while developing young women to succeed long after their playing careers.”

Lazo served as an assistant coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols for the past two seasons, helping to lead the team into two NCAA Tournament appearances, with a Sweet 16 run during his first season.

As he enters his tenth season coaching women’s college basketball, Lazo’s extensive background includes helping guide teams to five postseason appearances (four NCAA Tournaments and one WBIT) and two conference titles, landing the No. 1-ranked transfer class and signing a combined 11 SportsCenter Next 100 athletes—four five-stars and seven four-stars—after over four years in the SEC.

The newly inducted head coach called the opportunity an incredible honor and meant a great deal as a Florida native.

“This is a special place with tremendous potential, and I’m grateful to President Alexander Cartwright, Terry Mohajir, Chris McFarlane, and the leadership at UCF for believing in me,” Lazo said in the press release. “I look forward to building meaningful relationships with our student-athletes, competing at a high level in the Big 12, and making Knight Nation proud.”