Image Credit: UAA
Just over one week after being elevated into an interim coach role in the wake of Kevin O’Sullivan’s unexpected leave of absence from the baseball team, Florida Gators associate head coach Chuck Jeroloman has been plucked away from the program.
New Tennessee Volunteers head coach Josh Elander has pulled Jeroloman from the Gators, hiring him as the program’s top assistant coach and recruiting coordinator, according to Kendall Rodgers among multiple reports. Elander and Jeroloman coached together previously at TCU.
Jeroloman was originally brought to Florida by O’Sullivan in 2020, getting promoted to associate head coach in 2024. As such, it appears as if he will be making a lateral move, though the devil is ultimately in the details of Tennessee’s offer, which is not known at this time.
The Gators last Wednesday announced that O’Sullivan would take a leave of absence from the program, effective immediately. The absence was only explained as being for personal reasons with no further details provided as to his long-term status with the team.
“I appreciate the support of the university and athletic department,” O’Sullivan said in a statement. “I have some personal and family issues that need my full attention at this time.”
Should O’Sullivan return to Florida, the 2026 season will mark his 19th with the program. In addition to leading UF to the national championship in 2017, he has been responsible for nine College World Series appearances, six SEC championships, two SEC Tournament championships and 14 first-round selections in the MLB Draft since 2012.
“Coach O’Sullivan has our full support as he takes the time he needs to focus on personal matters,” athletic director Scott Stricklin said. “We appreciate his openness in communicating this decision, and respect his need for privacy.”
It is likely that assistant Taylor Black, entering his fourth season with the Gators, will take over as interim coach, though Florida now enters a difficult period in which it must integrate a second person into that role while holding a coaching vacancy with its head coach not an active member of the team.
This as the Gators play their first of two fall exhibitions games Friday when they hit the road to face Jacksonville. Florida will then host Georgia Southern on Sunday, Nov. 9.
The 2026 season begins in less than four months with a three-game homestand against UAB beginning on Friday, Feb. 13. O’Sullivan is scheduled to serve a three-game suspension to start the season as punishment for a flare-up during the 2025 NCAA Tournament last summer.
UF has only finished over .500 in SEC play once across the last four seasons.