UCF hires Orlando native, former Knight Rich Wallace as baseball coach

Rich Wallace is coming home.

The Orlando native, former UCF player and assistant coach was named the head coach of the Knights baseball program Monday following a search that lasted just over two weeks.

Wallace most recently served as an assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for Florida State. Prior to his one season in Tallahassee, he spent three serving as the recruiting coordinator and third base coach at Notre Dame under Link Jarrett, who now coaches the Seminoles.

Wallace, who previously played for and worked at UCF in the early 2000s, replaces Greg Lovelady, who was dismissed May 27 after seven seasons at the helm. UCFSports.com first reported the hiring and the Sentinel later confirmed.

“To do that at a place that I love and that’s home, it’s really something special,” said Wallace who becomes the first UCF alumnus to be named head coach of an NCAA-sponsored men’s sport at the university since 1988.

The Knights had targeted former MLB manager Joe Girardi and even offered him the job but he reportedly declined late last week.

UCF then shifted its gears towards a coach with not only a connection to the university but 20 years of experience at the collegiate level, something Girardi lacked.

UCF athletics director Terry Mohajir explained what stood out about Wallace in the hiring process.

“He embodies the UCF way,” Mohajir said. “His goal was always to be the head coach at UCF. He took advantage of all of the opportunities that he got to earn his way back here.

“We had a lot of great candidates for this job and he was the kind of guy that I was drawn to just [because of] his work ethic and his ability to recruit.”

In South Bend, Wallace oversaw defensive alignments, managed opposing pitcher video scouting reports, helped coordinate base-running instruction and assisted with game management.

With Wallace on staff, Notre Dame reached back-to-back NCAA Super Regionals (2021, ‘22) and the 2022 College World Series for just the third time in program history.

At Notre Dame, Wallace coached two All-Americans, three All-ACC selections and 14 players were named to the All-ACC Academic Team. Throughout his career, Wallace has produced 53 MLB draft selections and coached over 60 all-conference performers.

Prior to his time at Notre Dame, Wallace served as the recruiting coordinator for High Point (2009-14), Creighton (2015-17) and Jacksonville (‘18-19), the latter of which earned a trip to the NCAA tournament.

In 2018, Wallace and the Dolphins reached the NCAA Tournament as a two-seed, the highest in program history.

Of course, UCF is where he began his coaching career. Wallace worked as the program’s recruiting coordinator from 2004-08 when he coached the catchers and outfielders while coordinating prospect camps.

The Knights won the ASUN regular season title during his first season on staff and reached the NCAA Tournament.

He played at UCF from 2000-03 and led the Knights with a .380 batting average and .529 on-base percentage as a freshman.

Wallace, who attended Bishop Moore, remains in UCF’s top 10 in single-season hit by pitch (16), single-season on-base percentage (.529) and career hit by pitch (46).

A 2004 UCF graduate, Wallace will now lead the Knights into their first season in the Big 12 Conference.

“We’re going to the Big 12 with a chance to compete in that and take this program to something it’s never been to,” he said.

Email Jason Beede at jbeede@orlandosentinel.com or follow him on Twitter at @therealBeede.