Rowing’s Lauzon receives scholar-athlete award

UCF senior Chelsey Lauzon, who finished her career with the Knights rowing team in the spring, was named the Conference USA Scholar Athlete of the Year for the second consecutive year on Friday.

Lauzon rowed in the Knights’ varsity-eight boat for four years. The native of Rockford, Mich., will graduate in December and is majoring in elementary education and minoring in coaching. Lauzon currently holds a 3.94 cumulative GPA.

The award is presented to the top student-athletes in each conference-sponsored sport with consideration of academic achievement and GPA, athletic success and service to the community.

At this spring’s C-USA Championships, Lauzon was recognized on the all-conference team, an honor she received for the third consecutive time.

Offensive line coach promoted to assistant head coach

Offensive line coach and recruiting coordinator Brent Key received a promotion on Thursday when head coach George O’Leary announced that Key would be taking over as assistant head coach.

The new role will increase responsiblities for Key, who will remain at the helm of UCF’s offensive line and recruiting efforts.

Key has been with the program for eight years.

“I always try to reward coaches who have shown the maturity and responsibility that goes with coaching and that title,” O’Leary said in a release. “Throughout the years, Brent has demonstrated that he truly deserves this.”

Key came to UCF in 2005 as a graduate assistant and went on to work with the Knights’ group of tight ends in 2006. In 2007, Key’s responsibilities were expanded and he was put in charge of recruiting. In 2008, he added special teams to his duties before taking over the offensive line in 2009.

“Knowing that [O’Leary] trusts me in this position and has enough confidence in me to get the job done means a lot to me,” Key said in a release.

As a player, Key played under O’Leary as a right guard at Georgia Tech from 1997 through 2000.

Men’s soccer promotes Ruiz

After four years as an assistant, men’s soccer’s Mauricio Ruiz has been promoted to associate head coach under head coach Bryan Cunningham.

Ruiz has previously served as a volunteer assistant coach (2008), an assistant coach (2009) and also as the program’s recruiting coordinator (2010).

“Each day, Mauricio gets better in every facet of coaching,” Cunningham said in a release.