Justice Covert

Journalism student at the University of Central Florida

Photo by brotiN biswaS on Pexels

Hard News Stories

Hard News Stories

The Charge •

UCF hires Steve Cooper to be offensive coordinator

Head coach Scott Frost has brought in a former assistant from his time in Nebraska to be UCF's new offensive coordinator.UCF announced the hiring of Boise State offensive analyst Steve Cooper to be the team's offensive coordinator Wednesday.
Cooper served under Frost in Nebraska for five seasons in various roles from 2018-22, including senior offensive analyst in 2022, interim quarterbacks coach in 2021 and offensive quality control coach from 2018-21.“I’m beyond excited to contribute to...
The Charge •

UCF hires McKenzie Milton as quarterbacks coach

Head coach Scott Frost is getting the band back together, hiring former UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton to coach the same position on his staff.UCF football announced Tuesday the addition of Milton to the coaching staff as quarterbacks coach, a move that Frost alluded to in his introductory news conference Sunday.
In the conference, Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir gifted a number 10 jersey to Frost, a gesture that signified Frost as the 10th head coach hired in pro...
The Charge •

UCF introduces Scott Frost as head coach

UCF football's introductory news conference for the program's new head coach Sunday was more of a reintroduction, welcoming back a familiar face.Scott Frost, UCF's newest head coach, didn't need directions when he came to the campus for the conference— he pulled into the same parking spot from when he served as the team's head coach seven years ago.
"It feels like 100 years ago and yesterday at the same time," Frost said in the conference. "I didn't think this would come. Like I said, I...
The Charge •

Gus Malzahn steps down as UCF's head coach, heads to FSU

Gus Malzahn is no longer UCF's head coach; he's resigning to take a job in Tallahassee. Malzahn, who served as UCF's head football coach since 2021, stepped down Saturday, according to a social media post by ESPN's Pete Thamel, one day after UCF's 28-14 loss to Utah.Malzahn is departing the Knights to become the new offensive coordinator for Florida State, the first time he won't serve as a head coach since 2011. 
The loss to Utah was the final game in the worst-performing season by UCF...
The Charge •

Mr. 1,000: Darius Johnson reaches milestone in UCF's win over Tennessee Tech

From early mornings in his high school gym in Virginia years ago to etching his name in UCF men's basketball history on Tuesday, senior guard Darius Johnson has arrived.With the Knights up nine points with a little over 12 minutes left in UCF's 80-69 win over Tennessee Tech, Johnson shot an open-look three in front of the home bench. The bucket was his sixth point of the night and 1,000th of his career, a feat only 20 Knights have accomplished before him.
"It means a lot," Johnson said....
The Charge •

UCF drops 100 on FAU in 3rd straight win

For the first time in the Johnny Dawkins era, UCF scored 100 points in regulation, outlasting FAU 100-94 Tuesday at Addition Financial Arena.Those 94 points allowed, however, could come at a price.
"Man, we're going to have a long practice, I'm going to tell you that," junior guard Keyshawn Hall said. "We've got to improve a lot, man. Coach Dawkins, his goals is not 94 points. It's definitely like 50 or 40, so just pray for us in practice."Hall led the team in scoring against the Owls wi...
The Charge •

UCF runs over Arizona for 8th straight space game win

A freshman's first career start at quarterback and an effective ground game made the difference in UCF's eighth straight space game victory.UCF (4-5, 2-4 Big 12) bounced back in a big way Saturday at FBC Mortgage Stadium, routing Arizona (3-6, 1-5 Big 12) by a score of 56-12, ending the Knights five-game losing streak.
It was a star-turn performance from redshirt freshman quarterback Dylan Rizk, who played out of this world in his first career start, throwing for 294 yards and three touc...
The Charge •

UCF students prepare for Hurricane Helene with Knights Pantry

Knights Pantry didn't amend its item limit for UCF students gathering supplies, even with Hurricane Helene expected to hit Florida's Big Bend region late Thursday evening, according to the National Weather Service. Knights Pantry, located at Ferrell Commons, is a resource that offers UCF students with a valid UCF ID a five-item limit for food received through donations, according to the Knights Pantry website. It's open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for the fall semester and offers oth...
NSM Today •

UCF softball no-hits Bethune-Cookman in doubleheader sweep

A finish to a game that started over a month ago and a no-hitter punctuated UCF softball's two-game sweep of the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats on Wednesday. The UCF Knights (28-18) took two from the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats (15-28) in their doubleheader at the UCF Softball Complex, winning game one 9-1 and game two 8-0. 
"Really good to just play free like we did today," head coach Cindy Ball-Malone said. "Our pitchers have been really throwing well, all of them, the last, I would say, two or...
NSM Today •

UCF softball earns tenth straight win with shutout victory over FAU

A 19-year-old broken record and a near no-hitter extended UCF softball's winning streak to 10 against the FAU Owls on Wednesday.The UCF Knights (26-15) allowed just one hit in their 1-0 victory against the FAU Owls (33-12) at the UCF Softball Complex, which featured both starting pitchers going the distance.
"I like these games as a pitcher," head coach Cindy Ball-Malone said. "But then, on the offensive side, I wanted to see us hit the ball a little bit more."The Knights only got four h...
NSM Today •

UCF softball take Ospreys down in doubleheader

A sophomore's gem and a walk-off slam helped UCF softball finish off the UNF Ospreys in a doubleheader on Tuesday.UCF (18-15) won both games in its doubleheader against the UNF Ospreys (23-12) at the UCF Softball Complex on Tuesday. The Knights took game one 11-4, and the Ospreys laid an egg in game two, losing 9-0.
"One is one, that's kind of been our motto these last couple of days," head coach Cindy Ball-Malone said. "One pitch, one game, one out, one at-bat, whatever it is and just l...
NSM Today •

UCF softball snaps winless streak in series win over Texas Tech

UCF softball head coach Cindy Ball-Malone captured her 200th program win, and 300th career win over the weekend as the Knights took two from Texas Tech in three games.UCF (16-15) entered Thursday on a seven-game losing streak but turned things around against the Texas Tech Red Raiders (22-10), winning two across their three-game slate from March 28 through March 30.
Thursday's 8-5 UCF win and Ball-Malone's 200th victory at UCF saw the Knights come back from a 4-0 deficit after the first...
NSM Today •

UCF softball outclasses Stetson in mid-week matchup

An immediate offense set the tone, and a duel between former teammates closed out UCF softball's 4-2 win over the Stetson Hatters. The Knights (12-7) handled the Hatters (7-14) at the UCF Softball Complex on Wednesday in what was their last game before Big 12 conference play this weekend against the Kansas Jayhawks (13-5-1).
"I feel like we've been through a lot of adversity," head Cindy Ball-Malone said. "I like how we came out and played a little bit more aggressive, it looked like we...
NSM Today •

UCF softball wins three in the Knights Classic

UCF softball captured three wins over the weekend in the Knights Classic at the UCF Softball Complex, but failed to get its first ranked win.The UCF Knights (11-7) went 3-1 over the weekend, beating the Princeton Tigers 10-2 on Friday and 11-2 on Saturday for the space game. On Sunday UCF beat the Kennesaw State Owls 4-1, and couldn't finish their game against the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats due to lightning. The Knights took the one loss from the No. 22 South Carolina Gamecocks on Friday, falling...
NSM Today •

UCF softball extinguishes Flames 7-5

Before embarking to Clearwater to compete in the Shriners Children's Clearwater Invitational, UCF softball won its second straight game, beating the Liberty Flames 7-5 on Wednesday."I like how we came out offensively, disciplined, stuck to our plan; two big innings made the difference," head coach Cindy Ball-Malone said.
Decked in the Knights' all-black uniforms with gold pinstripes, junior pitcher Katelyn Felton took the mound at the UCF Softball Complex for her second start. Felton qui...
NSM Today •

UCF softball goes to 2-0 to kick off Black and Gold Classic

UCF softball showed out on "opening knight" on Thursday, outscoring Howard and UConn 19-3 to kick off the Black and Gold Classic with two wins.The Knights captured their first two wins of the season at the UCF Softball complex on Thursday night. They opened with a double-header defeating the Howard Bison 10-2 (5) and then, later that night, the UConn Huskies 9-1 (5).  
"That's amazing for us," senior utility Kennedy Searcy said. "I think we've been working really hard, and we finally see...
NSM Today •

UCF softball hosts second-annual fan fest

The UCF softball team's second-annual fan fest hit it out of the park on Sunday as fans got to meet and hang out with their favorite players.Less than two weeks from the Knights' first game, the team opened up its facilities and hosted fans for numerous activities to usher in the 2024 season. Light showers came down on the UCF Softball Complex early Sunday morning, but the skies cleared up just as the Knights opened the gates. Families then began to file into their seats for the team's first eve...
NSM Today •

Her Campus hosts second annual career panel

Eight panel members gave their professional insights on navigating their respective careers after graduation at the second annual career panel hosted by UCF's Her Campus chapter on Tuesday.The eight panel members for this year's event were an increase from the six who spoke at the first annual Her Campus UCF career panel back in November 2022. The intention is to provide helpful insight to college women looking for career paths after graduation.
Among others, the panel included Lena Dani...