ORLANDO, Fla. — Longtime University of Central Florida supporters Ron and Julie Cartwright have pledged an additional $500,000 to the university’s Hagle Football Gateway project, bringing their total commitment to $750,000, UCF Athletics announced.
The latest gift will support ongoing enhancements to the football program’s facilities and game-day experience at Acrisure Bounce House. University officials also announced that a new gathering space near the stadium’s Roth Tower will be named the Ron and Julie Cartwright Head Coaches Corner in recognition of the couple’s decades of philanthropy and service to UCF.
The landscaped area will be located near IOA Plaza between the north and south entrances of the new Roth Tower and is intended to honor the history of UCF Football and the coaches who helped build the program. The space will also become the permanent home of the George O’Leary statue, creating a destination that recognizes the leadership behind the Knights’ rise from a young football program to national prominence.
UCF Vice President and Director of Athletics Terry Mohajir said the Cartwrights have played an important role in the university’s growth and success.
“Ron and Julie have dedicated their lives to helping UCF become one of the nation’s fastest-growing universities, and their impact on our athletics program cannot be overstated,” Mohajir said in a statement. “Their generosity reflects everything that makes Knight Nation special: investing in people, honoring those who built our foundation, and believing in our future.”
The Cartwright family has supported UCF Football since moving to Orlando approximately 40 years ago. During that time, they have remained active donors and advocates for the university as its athletics program has grown from its early years into a member of one of the nation’s premier athletic conferences.
Reflecting on that journey, Ron Cartwright said he remembers a time when supporters would personally help cover travel expenses for the football team.
“I remember when UCF Football was in its infancy and donor friends like us would ‘pass the hat’ to help cover hotel costs for road trips,” Cartwright said. “To see where this program stands today is truly remarkable.”
Cartwright said he and his wife are proud to continue supporting UCF Athletics and hope the Head Coaches Corner becomes a place where fans can honor the coaches who shaped the program while celebrating its future.
The Head Coaches Corner will be incorporated into the expanded game-day experience surrounding the Roth Tower at Acrisure Bounce House. In addition to recognizing the program’s head coaches, the area is expected to serve as a gathering place for fans attending Knights football games and university events.
According to UCF Athletics, the additional pledge reflects the Cartwrights’ longstanding commitment to the university and its student-athletes while helping advance the Hagle Football Gateway project and future improvements to the athletics program.
