Photo by Aryah Britt

UCF baseball head coach Rich Wallace isn’t planning on going anywhere. The Knights have made sure of that for the foreseeable future.

Wallace recently agreed to a contract extension that will keep him at UCF through the 2030 season. His new deal begins Sept. 1, 2026, with Wallace scheduled to earn $525,000 for the 2027 season. His guaranteed annual compensation increases to $550,000 in 2028, $575,000 in 2029, and $600,000 in 2030.

For Wallace, a former UCF player who returned to Orlando as head coach ahead of the 2024 season, the extension reinforces his desire to build the program for the long term.

“This was the place I’ve always wanted to be,” Wallace said. “Don’t have any plans on ever leaving. … Just glad to finally get it done.”

Wallace holds a 98–70 overall record through his first three seasons (2024–2026) with the Knights, overseeing the program’s transition into the Big 12 and attempting to build UCF into a consistent NCAA Tournament contender.

Wallace said the first stage of his plan has been establishing the Knights as a program capable of competing for Top 25 recognition and regular NCAA Tournament appearances. The next step, he said, is accomplishing things UCF baseball has never done before.

That includes hosting an NCAA Regional, something Wallace called “1,000%” a goal for the program. Wallace believes reaching roughly 20 or 21 Big 12 victories, combined with a strong nonconference performance, could put UCF in position to earn a regional host opportunity.

The Knights came close to that conference benchmark last season, winning 19 Big 12 games despite battling injuries. Wallace said the experience showed UCF what it takes to compete in a league where he believes there are no weekends off.

“You’re in the middle of it, and you’re thinking, how do we get to 15?” Wallace said. “And then after that, you’re looking at, okay, if we’re on the other side of that, even if we win one or two more, like, we’re hosting regionals.”

UCF will also enter Wallace’s fourth season with increased continuity. Wallace praised the program’s offseason retention, noting that several veterans chose to return rather than enter the transfer portal. He believes that experience can help the Knights become more player-led, particularly on the pitching staff.

Other signs of investment in the program are also emerging. UCF is preparing to open a new training facility featuring a team weight room and pitching lab, giving the Knights additional resources for player development, performance, and injury prevention.

But Wallace has made it clear that the ultimate measure of progress will come on the field, and while he is proud of the foundation built, he knows the next phase is about finding out just how high that ceiling can go.