Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan has returned from his leave of absence and is reassuming his duties.
The school announced O’Sullivan’s return on Wednesday, Dec. 17.
“I want to thank the University and athletic department for their support,” said O’Sullivan in a press release. “I am excited to be back and am ready to get to work with our team as we prepare for the upcoming 2026 season.”
O’Sullivan has been away from the program since Oct. 22 as he opted to step away for personal reasons with no exact timetable on his return.
“Coach O’Sullivan has our full support as he takes the time he needs to focus on personal matters,” said Florida Athletic Director Scott Stricklin in a press release back in October. “We appreciate his openness in communicating this decision, and respect his need for privacy.”
During O’Sullivan’s absence, UF hired Tom Slater as the associate head coach as well as interim coach following Chuck Jeroloman’s departure to Tennessee. O’Sullivan’s staff will consist of Slater, assistant coach Taylor Black and pitching coach David Kopp.
Prior to O’Sullivan’s leave, he was subject to a child welfare investigate, which cited no evidence of wrongdoing.
Earlier this fall, O’Sullivan received a public reprimand for a viral outburst during the NCAA regional hosted by Coastal Carolina earlier in August. In response, UF opted to suspend O’Sullivan for the Gators’ first three games of the upcoming 2026 season.
O’Sullivan is the winningest coach in the program’s history, as he has compiled a record of 756-371 in 18 seasons, which include nine trips to the College World Series and a national title in 2017.
This story was updated to add new quotes and information.
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at AAbadie@usatodayco.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.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan to return to program
Reporting by Andrew Abadie, Gainesville Sun / The Gainesville Sun
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