Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin announced a three-game suspension for head coach Kevin O’Sullivan following his actions at the 2025 NCAA Conway Regional.
The suspension will take effect for the first three games of Florida’s 2025-26 season against the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
“The suspension announced today reinforces Florida Athletics’ commitment to our standards, with Coach O’Sullivan accepting full responsibility for his behavior,” Stricklin said. “Sully has vowed to learn from the experience and serve as a better leader moving forward.”
A video surfaced of O’Sullivan yelling several expletives at Coastal Carolina administrators after officials decided to push back the Gators’ elimination matchup against the Pirates by an hour on June 1.
According to NCAA officials, O’Sullivan’s behavior was deemed misconduct by NCAA Bylaw 31.02.4. The NCAA committee “felt strongly” that O’Sullivan failed to exhibit sportsmanship and his actions were unsportsmanlike, per the reprimand.
Florida’s skipper released a public statement alongside Stricklin on June 2 apologizing for the pregame incident that occurred before Florida’s matchup.
“This afternoon I met with Kevin O'Sullivan and told him that his actions prior to yesterday's NCAA Tournament game fell well short of expectations of how Gators treat people,” Stricklin said in a statement. “One of our department's core values is respect, and Coach O'Sullivan's unacceptable actions failed to demonstrate that. On behalf of Florida Athletics, I want to personally apologize to everyone impacted — including NCAA representatives, Coastal Carolina and their staff, East Carolina and their team — as well as to Gator Nation.”
Below Stricklin’s apology included a statement from O’Sullivan.
“Prior to yesterday's NCAA Tournament game against East Carolina, I let my emotions get the best of me and channeled that energy in a way I should not have,” he said. “I want to sincerely apologize for my actions and behavior to the entire NCAA Regional field of Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Fairfield, the NCAA — including site representatives Rick French and Mark Scalf — as well as all of Gator Nation. I did not represent the University of Florida to the appropriate standard yesterday and take full responsibility for that, and promise to learn from this experience and be better moving forward.”
O’Sullivan was asked about the moment after Florida’s 11-4 loss to East Carolina Sunday and dismissed the question.
“I don't want to address that right now," O'Sullivan said, adding that he spoke to officials following the matchup. "I handled it properly at the end of the game."
Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall addressed the event and called O’Sullivan a “bully” during a post-game press conference, criticizing his treatment of each team’s staff.
“As a coach, it’s our job to mentor young kids, and the way he treated the two site reps, the way he treated our associate AD, the way he treated our field crew is absolutely unacceptable,” Schnall said. “This is a national champion coach who thinks he can come in here and try to bully people around.”
Two of Florida's games were pushed back over the regional round. UF was originally slated to play against Fairfield at noon May 31, and the game was rescheduled to 3 p.m. A similar instance occurred the following day when Florida’s elimination game against the Pirates was pushed back an hour.
The Gators will begin the fall practice season Oct. 6 at Condron Family Ballpark. Practice will be open to the public for free.
Contact Luke Adragna at ladragna@alligator.org. Follow him on X @lukeadrag.
Luke Adragna is working his fifth semester at The Alligator and returns as the Summer 2025 assistant sports editor. In his free time, he enjoys hanging out with his cat Pete and researching niche professional athletes (shoutout Jacquizz Rodgers).
