Johnny Dawkins is coaching like a man on a mission-and right now, that mission is turning heads across the Big 12.
After a few seasons of inconsistency and growing whispers about his job security, Dawkins has flipped the narrative in a big way. His UCF Knights are 17-4 overall, 6-3 in conference play, and fresh off a statement week that saw them reel off back-to-back wins-including a stunner over a top-15 Texas Tech squad.
The result? Dawkins was named Coach of the Week by The Field of 68, a well-earned nod to a coach who's not just surviving in the Big 12-he's thriving.
And make no mistake, this isn’t just about wins. It’s about how UCF is winning.
Let’s start with the comeback against Arizona State. Down by 11 with just over five minutes to go, the Knights looked like they were headed for a frustrating home loss.
But Dawkins’ squad didn’t blink. They caught fire from deep, hitting five of their last six three-point attempts and locking in defensively to claw their way back.
It was the kind of gritty, resilient performance that speaks volumes about a team’s identity-and its coach’s influence.
"You know, we had to dig deep. We've had to do that a number of times this year," Dawkins said after the game. "The one thing about them is they still believe we have a chance as long as there's a second on the clock."
That belief carried straight into a heavyweight showdown with No. 11 Texas Tech.
The Red Raiders came in with serious credentials, led by JT Toppin and Christian Anderson-two players with legitimate First Team All-American buzz. But UCF didn’t flinch.
The Knights led for over 36 minutes, controlled the tempo, and matched Texas Tech’s physicality from the opening tip to the final horn.
Sophomore center John Bol was a force, putting up 14 points and grabbing 10 boards for his second double-double of the season. The home crowd let him hear it, chanting his name as he anchored the paint and helped UCF secure its second ranked win of the year.
And when the final buzzer sounded on an 88-80 win, the scene at Addition Financial Arena was pure joy-another court storm, another signature moment in a season that’s quickly becoming something special.
Dawkins has long preached the importance of playing a full 40 minutes. Against Texas Tech, his team finally delivered on that challenge.
"I thought our guys just played a 40-minute basketball game," he said. "We've been challenging our guys all season long.
When will we play 40 minutes? Not 35, not 30.
And I thought it took a 40-minute game tonight in order to be successful."
Now, with momentum building and confidence rising, UCF is making its case as one of the most dangerous unranked teams in the country. They’ve won three straight, taken down a top-15 opponent, and shown they can win both with late-game heroics and wire-to-wire execution.
It’s been a long road since their last NCAA Tournament appearance in 2019, but with Dawkins steering the ship and this group buying in, the Knights are suddenly looking like a team nobody wants to face come March.
The hot seat? That’s ice cold now. Dawkins isn’t just coaching to keep his job-he’s coaching one of the most compelling teams in the Big 12.