Rich Wallace

Head Coach, UCF Baseball

Rich Wallace isn’t just leading UCF baseball—he’s living it. An Orlando native and proud UCF alumnus, Wallace has come full circle, returning to his alma mater in 2024 to guide the Knights to one of their most exciting seasons in years.

Taking the reins in UCF’s inaugural Big 12 season, Wallace wasted no time making an impact. In his first year as head coach, he led the Knights to their first NCAA Tournament appearance since 2017, reaching the Tallahassee Regional final, and climbed as high as No. 16 in the national rankings.

But Wallace’s connection to Orlando’s baseball team runs deeper than wins and losses. A former Knights player (2000-03) and assistant coach (2004-08), he became the first person in program history to reach the NCAA Tournament as a player, assistant, and head coach. Under his leadership, UCF won six Big 12 series, dominated non-conference play with a 19-3 record, and saw six players earn All-Big 12 honors.

His love for the game extends to his family—his daughters are often seen assisting as bat girls in the dugouts during games, making baseball a true family affair. Wallace and his wife, Alex, a UCF alum, share a special connection to the sport as well. The couple was married at Rosenblatt Stadium, the former home of the College World Series in Omaha, where Alex is from, cementing their love for baseball in a place rich with history.

Now, as the first UCF alumnus to lead an NCAA men’s program since 1988, Wallace isn’t just coaching—he’s shaping the next chapter of Knights baseball. And if his first season is any indication, the best is yet to come.

ucfknights.com