UCF men’s basketball coach Johnny Dawkins has signed a contract extension that will keep him in Orlando one year longer.
The university announced Thursday that Dawkins' current six-year contract has been extended by a year through 2023. The extension will add $1.5 million onto his current deal.
Dawkins led the Knights to a 24-12 overall record and a trip to the NIT Final Four in 2016-17. It was Dawkins' first season as the Knights head coach.
“It’s a great feeling to know that they believe in what we’re doing as a program and our standard of representing UCF and the surrounding community at the highest level," said Dawkins.
The Knights hosted their first NIT game last season, recorded their first-ever win in an NIT or NCAA tournament game and led all of NCAA Division I in defensive field goal percentage, holding opponents to just 36.5 percent from the floor.
"I couldn't be more excited to have Johnny Dawkins leading our men's basketball program," said Dr. Daniel J. White, UCF Director of Athletics. "We're all extremely proud of last season's success and look forward to continued growth in our young program."
Dawkins is a former Duke All-American who joined the Knights in 2016 after being fired at Stanford. His current contract pays him $1.1 million before incentives.
UCF is already looking forward to its 2017-18 schedule. Next season, the Knights will host Missouri, play at Alabama and take part in the AdvoCare Invitational at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports.
(The Associated Press contributed to this report)