UCF Knights baseball

UCF Knights Baseball
Founded: 1973
2015 UCF Knights baseball team


University University of Central Florida
Conference The American
Location Orlando, FL
Head coach Terry Rooney (7th year)
Home stadium Jay Bergman Field
(Capacity: 3,230[1])
Nickname Knights
Colors Black and Gold[2]
         
NCAA Tournament appearances
1989, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2011, 2012
Conference tournament champions
1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002
Conference champions
2000, 2001, 2002, 2004

The UCF Knights baseball team represents The University of Central Florida in National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I. The Knights compete in the American Athletic Conference (The American).[3] The Knights play their home games on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida at Jay Bergman Field, and are currently coached by head coach Terry Rooney.

History

Coaching history

Tenure Coach Seasons Record Pct.
1973–1975 Doug Holmquist 3 66–41–1 .616
1976–1977 Jack Sexton 2 43–41 .512
1978–1982 Bill Moon 5 124–110–6 .529
1983–2008 Jay Bergman 26 994–594–3 .626
2008 Craig Cozart† 1 4–8 .333
2009–Present Terry Rooney 6 235–177 .570
Totals 6 coaches 43 seasons 1,466–971–10 .601
† Denotes interim coach.
Records are through the end of the 2015 NCAA Season.

Early history (1973–1983)

Though UCF baseball first took the field in 1973, its history dates back to 1970 with UCF's club baseball team, the FTU Goldsox.[4][5] The Goldsox played in the Amateur Baseball League of Central Florida and were managed by Jack Pantelias, who led them from 1970 to midway through the 1972 season. When Pantelias resigned, he was replaced by Doug Holmquist, who would lead the team through the end of the season on an interim basis before being named head coach before the 1973 season.[5]

The team has been nationally ranked at times during the course of eleven seasons, including the highest ranking of No. 7 during both the 2001 and 2012 seasons.[5]

Bergman era (1983–2008)

Jay Bergman took over the program in 1983 after serving as the head coach at Seminole Community College. The Knights first season in Division I was in 1985 under Bergman. The Knights earned a 52–34–1 record in their first D–I season.[5] Bergman was forced to retire during the 2008 season after allegations surfaced of him harassing an equipment manager.[6][7]

Bergman had a large amount of success in this position, leading UCF to Atlantic Sun Championships in 93, 95, 96, 97, 00, 01, 02, 04 and NCAA Regional Appearances in 89, 93, 95, 96, 97, 00, 01, 02, 04, and brought UCF to a national ranking of No. 7 in 2001.[5] In honor of his long term success with the Knights, on February 3, 2001, UCF opened and dedicated Jay Bergman Field.

Rooney era (2009–present)

Terry Rooney became head coach in 2008 after serving as an assistant coach at LSU, Notre Dame, Stetson, Old Dominion, James Madison, and George Washington. In his second season, Rooney led the Knights to a 33–22 (10–14) record, 11 more wins than the prior season and the best conference record since the team started in Conference USA in 2006.[8] On June 21, 2010, Rooney signed a four-year contract extension with the university, making him the Knights head baseball coach through 2014.[9]

Following a 38–21 season, Rooney led the Knights to their first NCAA Tournament under his leadership in 2011.[10] The year was a high for the Knights, defeating the No 4. ranked Florida Gators in Gainesville and the then-ranked No. 5 Gators in Orlando. The Knights also defeated the No. 6 ranked Florida State Seminoles in Tallahassee during the 2011 campaign.[11] In 2012, Rooney led the Knights to a No. 7 ranking during week ten, and an appearance in the Coral Gables Regional.

Stadium

Jay Bergman Field
Main article: Jay Bergman Field

Jay Bergman Field is located on UCF's main campus in Orlando, Florida. It was originally built in 2001 as a state-of-the-art facility, and features an indoor training facility with three batting cages and two pitching mounds. The facility was named after the Knight's former head coach, Jay Bergman.

Renovations

Within the last few years, Jay Bergman Field has been expanded from 1,980 seats to 2,230. The stadium can also accommodate another 1,000 fans on grass berms along the first and third base lines.[1] In the next few years seating will be further expanded to a total capacity at 4,180.[12] In addition, a new digital scoreboard and beautification has taken place as part of the renovation.

Program records and achievements

Conference tournament championships

Conference Season
Atlantic Sun Conference 1993
Atlantic Sun Conference 1995
Atlantic Sun Conference 1996
Atlantic Sun Conference 1997
Atlantic Sun Conference 2001
Atlantic Sun Conference 2002
Total Conference Titles 6

Conference season championships

Conference Season
Atlantic Sun Conference 2000
Atlantic Sun Conference 2001
Atlantic Sun Conference 2002
Atlantic Sun Conference 2004
Total Conference Titles 4

NCAA Tournament

Year Coach Record Pct. Notes
1989 Jay Bergman 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Villanova in the East Regional
1993 Jay Bergman 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Notre Dame in the East Regional
1995 Jay Bergman 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Ole Miss in the Atlantic Regional
1996 Jay Bergman 1–2 .333 Eliminated by UMass in the East Regional
1997 Jay Bergman 0–2 .000 Eliminated by Florida State in the East Regional
2000 Jay Bergman 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional
2001 Jay Bergman 2–2 .500 Eliminated by South Carolina in the Columbia Regional
2002 Jay Bergman 1–2 .333 Eliminated by USF in the Tallahassee Regional
2004 Jay Bergman 3–2 .600 Eliminated by Florida State in the Tallahassee Regional
2011 Terry Rooney 1–2 .333 Eliminated by Alabama in the Tallahassee Regional
2012 Terry Rooney 2–2 .500 Eliminated by Stony Brook in the Coral Gables Regional
Totals 16–22 .421 11 Appearances
The format of the tournament has changed through the years.

Knights in the MLB

A Minnesota Twins player leaning on the railing of the dugout during a baseball game.
Drew Butera
A Detroit Tigers pitcher getting ready to deliver a pitch during a baseball spring training game.
Mike Maroth

See also

References

  1. 1 2 UCF OFFICIAL ATHLETIC SITE - Facilities
  2. ↑ UCF Graphic Standards (PDF). UCF.edu. 2011-12-20. Retrieved 2016-03-24.
  3. ↑ McMurphy, Brett. "Old Big East now American Athletic". ESPN. Retrieved 4 April 2013.
  4. ↑ From 1963 to 1978 the University of Central Florida (UCF) was known as Florida Technological University (FTU).
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 2010 UCF Knights Baseball Yearbook
  6. ↑ Out-of-step Jay Bergman had to go. Orlando Sentinel, 2008-05-03.
  7. ↑ Bergman reaches settlement with UCF paving way for retirement party. Orlando Sentinel, 2009-09-15
  8. ↑ UCF baseball coach Terry Rooney inks new contract through 2014. Central Florida Future, 2010-06-21]
  9. ↑ UCF baseball coach Terry Rooney gets contract extension through 2014, likely putting him out of contention for Notre Dame job. Orlando Sentinel, 2010-06-21]
  10. ↑ UCF Receives NCAA At-Large Spot - Will Travel to Tallahassee
  11. ↑ 2011 UCF Baseball Schedule
  12. ↑ UCF planning expansion of Jay Bergman Field

External links

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