Overview
- UCF, which announced the change Monday, removed Sytia Messer after the Knights finished 11-19 to close a fourth straight losing season.
- Athletics director Terry Mohajir thanked Messer and said the program will hire a coach who can raise on-court results while keeping strong academic support for players.
- Messer was hired in April 2022 on a five-year deal to replace Katie Abrahamson-Henderson, who had led UCF to six straight winning seasons and three NCAA Tournament bids.
- Under Messer, UCF went 49-69 across one season in the American and three in the Big 12, and five of last season’s top seven scorers transferred to other schools.
- Reporting differs on the cost of the move, with USA TODAY citing a 50% buyout clause of about $370,000 while the Orlando Sentinel reported no financial hit to the program.