UCF eager to begin new era with a new coach in a new conference
When Rich Wallace was hired as UCF’s next baseball coach in June, the Orlando native called the opportunity a “dream job.”
In the seven short months since his return to his alma mater, Wallace has been busy rebuilding the program where he played and coached as an assistant. His hard work and effort come to fruition when the Knights open the 202425 season on Feb. 16 against Bryant at John Euliano Park.
“I’m excited to get this thing going,” said Wallace. “The guys had a very productive fall both on the field with the skill development and the overall team development and in the classroom. I’m very encouraged with their effort so far this spring.”
Wallace inherited a UCF program set to enter its first season in the Big 12 after a decade in the American Athletic Conference. The Knights haven’t qualified for the NCAA Tournament since 2017 and haven’t won a postseason game since ‘12.
After hiring a coaching staff, Wallace recruited 17 players from the transfer portal, many featuring Power Five experience.
“Twelve of our 17 transfers were at other Power Five institutions,” Wallace said. “They understand what this thing is going to look like going forward.”
Wallace’s blueprint for the transfer market was to build depth, particularly in the infield where UCF lost starters Ben McCabe (catcher), Nick Romano (first base), Thomas Josten (second base) and Drew Faurot (shortstop).
One of the additions was redshirt senior outfielder Jack Zyska, who rejoined Wallace after five seasons at Notre Dame where he was a .236 hitter with 18 home runs and 74 RBI. Both were a part of a Fighting Irish program that won back-to-back NCAA Regionals in 2021-22 and a College World Series appearance in ‘22.
“He’s very savvy and super competitive,” Zyska said of his former hitting coach.
The Knights also added depth and versatility to their pitching staff with transfers including left-hander Trey Wheeler (South Carolina), right-handers Grant Siegel (West Virginia), Alex Galvan (Louisville) and Tyler Nesbitt (Florida).
Wallace hopes those players will help a roster with three returning starters in junior designated hitter Andrew Sundean (.340/ 16 homers/54 RBI), redshirt senior infielder Andrew Brait (.286/3/38) and junior outfielder Lex Boedicker (.266/16/46) and pitchers Dom Stagliano (4-5, 6.54 ERA), Najer Victor (3-1, 2.88) and Kyle Kramer (6-2, 3.96).
“He’s won in the past and just a hell of a competitor when he played,” said Brait, who is transitioning to second base. “He brings that intensity to every practice and it’s amazing.”
Wallace hasn’t settled on a starting rotation yet but hopes to have it figured out soon.
“I would like to have that sorted out by the end of the weekend,” he said. “We’re close, but there’s still six guys jockeying for those three spots.”
According to Wallace, Ben Vespi, Cade Boxrucker, Wiley Hartley, Dominic Castellano, Nebitt and Stagliano are in the mix as starters, with Kramer among a handful of arms in the bullpen.
“We’ve got four to five guys back there that I would consider like high-leverage guys,” said Wallace.
Wallace knows the move to the Big 12 presents its challenges.
“When you look at what the Big 12 is and what it’s going to be, at worst, it’s a top three baseball league, but it’s probably in the top two, especially with the additions coming next year,” he said.
UCF was picked to finish 10th in the Big 12’s preseason baseball poll, decided on by the league’s coaches. The Knights, who received 45 votes, were ahead of Baylor (11) and BYU and Cincinnati, who were tied for 12th.
TCU (5), Texas (16), Texas Tech (21) and Kansas State (24) also are ranked in the preseason D1Baseball Top 25 poll.
“Dealing with the Big 12 schedule, there are no breaks,” said Wallace. “You can lose a series, get swept and you have to turn around and figure out how to manage through that.
“That’s going to be interesting to see how the guys handle that because it’s a little different than what they’re used to.”
Added Brait: “Every weekend, we’ve got a really good team that we’re facing. Not to knock on the American and all, but the Big 12, that’s a different brand of baseball, and we’re excited to get going.”