Florida’s Todd Golden Snubbed for SEC Coach of the Year Amid Success

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — In a surprising decision, Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden was overlooked for the SEC Coach of the Year award despite leading the team to its highest win percentage since 2013. The announcement came after Auburn‘s Bruce Pearl won the award, despite the Gators finishing the season series against the Tigers with a victory.

Golden completed his third season at the helm with the Gators finishing second in the SEC, an impressive jump from fifth place the previous year. The team secured three more conference wins and improved their overall record significantly, winning a total of 27 games — the highest for a Gators team since 2016.

While Auburn captured the conference title this season, winning a total of 27 games, their performance saw only marginal moves in the KenPom rankings, finishing just two spots higher than last year. Meanwhile, Florida’s jump from a fifth-place finish to second reflected a 22-spot rise in the rankings, ending the season fourth, behind Duke, Auburn, and Houston.

Gator Nation feels a sense of disappointment at the committee’s decision, viewing it as a snub after such a remarkable season. Historically, only two coaches who have won the award since 2018 also led their teams to a conference title, suggesting that significant improvements often play a pivotal role in the selection process.

Former Florida wide receiver and ESPN analyst Chris Doering commented on the situation during a SiriusXM broadcast, emphasizing that Golden’s contribution to the team’s success has been overlooked. “This guy should be the coach of the year, and the reason he may not be is because he deflects credit to his assistant coaches,” Doering noted. He praised Golden’s talent evaluation and recruiting abilities, which brought key players to Gainesville.

Doering continued, “When I watch this Gators team, they are a reflection of him on the sideline. Fiery, diving, and competitive all the way until the end.” He pointed out significant wins against seemingly higher-ranked teams, arguing that the Gators have proven themselves with their performance within the SEC.

Even amidst the disappointment of not receiving the award, Golden emphasized that the focus remains on their championship aspirations in March. He stated, “I want them to be very proud of the effort and the success that we’ve had to this point, but we have a lot of work left to do.”

Having secured a No. 2 seed in the upcoming SEC Tournament, Florida is poised for a double-bye and will not hit the court until the quarterfinals on March 17. The Gators will face the winner of a matchup between No. 7 Missouri and either No. 10 Mississippi State or No. 15 LSU.