ORLANDO, Fla. – The University of Central Florida’s Johnny Dawkins is emerging as a leading candidate for Big 12 Coach of the Year, a recognition fueled by the Knights’ successful transition into the conference and their current standing in the league standings.
Dawkins, who began his tenure at UCF in 2016, guided the Knights to a 17-12 overall record and a 9-9 mark in their inaugural Big 12 season as of March 2nd, 2026. This performance represents a significant step forward for the program, which previously competed in the American Athletic Conference.
Prior to UCF, Dawkins served as the head coach at Stanford from 2008 to 2016. Whereas at Stanford, he led the Cardinal to two National Invitation Tournament (NIT) championships, in 2012 and 2015. His coaching career began with a lengthy apprenticeship at Duke University, where he was an assistant coach from 1998 to 1999 and later an associate head coach from 1999 to 2008.
Dawkins’ own playing career was distinguished. A standout point guard at Duke from 1982 to 1986, he was named Naismith Player of the Year in 1986 and earned two-time Consensus first-team All-American honors in 1985 and 1986. He was drafted 10th overall in the 1986 NBA draft by the San Antonio Spurs and went on to play nine seasons in the NBA, also with the Philadelphia 76ers and Detroit Pistons.
During his NBA career, Dawkins accumulated 5,984 points, 1,336 rebounds, and 2,997 assists. His number 24 jersey is retired by Duke University. He was inducted into the Collegiate Basketball Hall of Fame, recognizing his achievements both as a player and a coach.
UCF’s performance in the Big 12 has been marked by several notable victories, including wins against ranked opponents. The Knights’ ability to compete consistently in a challenging conference has drawn attention to Dawkins’ coaching acumen and the program’s upward trajectory. The Big 12 Coach of the Year award will be announced following the conclusion of the conference tournament.
