The departure of top Florida baseball’s top assistant coach and Kevin O’Sullivan’s absence has created unusual offseason challenges for the program. Regardless, the locker room has stayed together.
Watch what Florida baseball’s Cade Kurland had to say after the Gators’ fall exhibition
Florida infielder speaks after the Gators swept Georgia Southern in a fall doubleheader exhibition.
The Florida Gators baseball team has faced recent coaching instability, including a head coach’s leave of absence.Despite the off-field turmoil, players report that the team has grown closer and remains focused on its goals.Florida recently hired Tom Slater as the acting interim head coach following the departure of the previous interim coach.Players have responded positively to Slater, praising his professional and laid-back approach.
Off the field, it’s been a turbulent offseason for Florida baseball.
Just two weeks ago, the Gators head coach Kevin O’Sullivan took a leave of absence for an unspecified amount of time.
Then, roughly one week later, UF’s top assistant coach Chuck Jeroloman, who was serving as the team’s interim head coach, left the program to join SEC rival Tennessee’s staff. Just a day later, Florida then hired Tom Slater to fill Jeroloman’s role.
Despite the inconvenient timing of the staff change, the locker room has persevered through the challenges.
“We still have the same goal,” said junior pitcher Luke McNeillie after a fall doubleheader vs Georgia Southern on Nov. 9. “We are still trying to get Omaha and win it all. I will say our team has definitely gotten closer. We have all come together and grown with all of the chaos outside of the locker room for sure.”
McNellie, who threw two clean innings in the exhibition, said that the adversity has brought the locker room even closer.
“Nothing is changing,” McNeillie said. “It’s been interesting, but it has been a good fall, I’d say. Half of our team is new, but this is probably the closest team I have been with.”
In a testament, the Gators swept their doubleheader exhibition against Georgia Southern on Sunday. This included UF rallying from a five-run deficit in its second game.
“The program is made up of the players that we have and the brand of baseball we play,” said Cade Kurland, who tripled and homered against Georgia Southern. “We show up everyday and keep our head down. We compete and that’s all there is to it.
“You can only control what you can control.”
Slater, who is now Florida’s acting interim head coach, arrived for his first practice last week. Slater had previously worked in professional baseball with recent stints in the Philadelphia Phillies, Miami Marlins and the New York Mets’ hitting organization, where he was notably the hitting coach for three seasons.
“He’s awesome,” Kurland said. “I have nothing but good things to say about him. He’s very laid back and very professional.
“He took it upon himself to introduce himself to everybody. The staff, players, managers everyone. I think that says a lot about him.”
Slater was on Florida’s staff back in 2004, and was the head coach at Auburn from 2005 to 2008.
“He’s got a professional approach,” McNeillie said. “Today, he sat back and watched us play because he has not been here for too long. He’s been awesome so far. He’s been a great help.”
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at aabadie@gannett.com or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.