Contract terms released for new UCF women's basketball coach Gabe Lazo

TL;DR

Gabe Lazo has signed a five-year contract as UCF's women's basketball coach, with the first three years guaranteed. His starting salary is $450,000, increasing to $600,000 by the final year, contingent on team performance.

Key points

Gabe Lazo signed a five-year contract as UCF's women's basketball coach
First three years of the contract are guaranteed
Starting salary is $450,000, increasing to $600,000 by the final year

Mentioned in this story

Gabe LazoUCFSytia Messer

ORLANDO — Gabe Lazo agreed to a five-year contract to become UCF's women's basketball coach, though only the first three years of the deal are guaranteed, according to an executive summary provided to The News-Journal by the school's athletic department April 28.

Lazo, hired on April 4 to replace Sytia Messer, will earn $450,000 in his first year in charge of the Knights. Those figures rise to $550,000 for the 2027-28 season and $600,000 for 2028-29, per the term sheet.

If UCF reaches the NCAA Tournament or wins 20 or more games inclusive of Big 12 tournament play in any of Lazo's first three seasons, the final two years of his contract become guaranteed. Lazo's salary would rise to $650,000 those years.

UCF introduced Gabe Lazo as its women's basketball head coach at a press conference Thursday, April 9, 2026.

Lazo, 41, takes over a program that went 11-19 and ranked last among Big 12 teams in attendance (1,094 fans per home game) this past season. UCF has lost 44 of its 54 conference contests since joining in 2023-24.

Across nine seasons as a Division I assistant, Lazo's teams posted a 159-119 record. He is the first Latino coach for a Power Four women's basketball program, accepting the position after initially taking a job as an assistant at LSU under Kim Mulkey on March 31.

UCF has signed six transfers since the women's basketball portal opened April 6: guard Mikayla Johnson (Pittsburgh), guard Key Roseby (Stephen F. Austin), guard Caitlyn Jones (Wake Forest), center Candace Kpetikou (Miami), guard Vittoria Blasigh (Miami) and guard Nyla McFadden (Penn State).

The Knights also retained forwards Mahogany Chandler-Roberts and Jasmynne Gibson and added French forward Salome Bayoyo from Croatian professional club ZKK Ragusa.

Q&A

What are the contract details for UCF women's basketball coach Gabe Lazo?

Gabe Lazo's contract is for five years, with the first three years guaranteed and a starting salary of $450,000.

What conditions could guarantee the final two years of Gabe Lazo's contract?

The final two years of Lazo's contract become guaranteed if UCF reaches the NCAA Tournament or wins 20 or more games in his first three seasons.

How much will Gabe Lazo earn in his last year as UCF's women's basketball coach?

Gabe Lazo's salary will rise to $600,000 in the 2028-29 season if the conditions for contract guarantees are met.