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Florida Baseball: Kevin O'Sullivan brings stability in a modern age of chaos

Florida's head coach recently signed an extension

Florida's head coach Kevin O'Sullivan shakes hands with Florida A&M head coach Jamey Shouppe
Florida's head coach Kevin O'Sullivan shakes hands with Florida A&M head coach Jamey Shouppe / Cyndi Chambers / USA TODAY NETWORK
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In two days, Florida Baseball will formally take the field to being their 2024 campaign. After falling one game short of a national title last season, expectations are sky high for the Gators to make another trip to Omaha.

And in a modern day college athletics atmosphere that seems to be rife with chaos in other sports, it is nice that at least one program at Florida has year in and year out stability.

Florida Baseball: Rock Solid

The headlines have coming at breakneck speed with college football coaches across the country bolting to the NFL. Jim Harbaugh won a national title and promptly bolted to the NFL. Jeff Hafley didn't win a national title at Boston College but he too bolted for the Green Bay Packers. Chip Kelly gave up his head coaching duties at UCLA to go be the offensive coordinator at Ohio State.

Florida Football has also seen its fair share of assistants jump to the NFL, including Patrick Toney last season.

So it was a bit of a relief when Nick de la Torre of On3 reported earlier this week that O'Sullivan and Florida agreed to an extension that would keep him in Gainesville through 2033.

Yes, it is a bit of apples and oranges comparing the jump from college to NFL to the jump from college to MLB, but it is also an indication that as college baseball continues to further creep its way into the mainstream discussion that Florida is in a great position to continue to be one of the top programs.

One could argue that while NIL has created chaos for football that it also creates opportunity in college. More and more prospects are going to be more likely to go the college route vs slog away in the minors for pennies on the dollar.

It also means some of the same bidding wars Florida is losing out on in football will creep its way into baseball and the Gators will have to make a choice on how much to pump into baseball.

But for now, the future is bright and as SEC Unfiltered's list of top SEC coaches heading into 2024 showcases, the Gators are in good hands.

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