Jim Schlossnaggle is why Florida Baseball fans are thankful for Kevin O'Sullivan

It seems like every offseason, Florida Baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan is linked to other jobs around the country. Most of the time, it is just fans putting together a wish list, though there are times when O’Sullivan himself is forced to address other jobs.

Through it all, he has remained with the Gators for close to two decades, and after what just went down at Texas A&M it should make Gator fans thankful for the longevity he has been willing to give Gainesville.

Florida Baseball: Snake In The Grass

Jim Schlossnaggle was seven outs away from leading Texas A&M to its first College World Series title on Sunday before Tennessee mounted a comeback in game two and won game three 6-5. Rumors started to swirl before game three that Texas was looking to swoop in and make a bid for Schlossnaggle to become their next head coach in 2025.

Following their loss in game three, Schlossnaggle was asked by reporter Richard Zane about the rumors and whether or not he intended to stay at Texas A&M:

"I think it's pretty selfish of you to ask me that question, to be honest with you. But I left my family to be the coach at Texas A&M. I took the job at Texas A&M to never take another job again. And that hasn't changed in my mind. That's unfair to talk about something like that. ...

I understand you've gotta ask the question. But I gave up a big part of my life to come take this job, and I've poured every ounce of my soul in this job. And I've given this job every single ounce I can possibly give it. Write that.
"

- Jim Schlossnaggle

Well, fast-forward not even 24 hours, and news broke that Schlossnaggle will, in fact, become Texas's next head coach.

Schlossnaggle had said similar things before he left TCU in 2021 to come to Texas A&M. Once a snake, always a snake.

It brings us back to O’Sullivan, who seems to get linked to jobs every offseason and has had his opportunities to leave Gainesville if that’s what he wanted to do. Most notably, back in 2021, he was linked to the LSU job before having to come out make a statement he was staying with Florida.

And before this season, he signed an extension designed to keep him with the Gators through 2033.

There have been moments of angst with O'Sullivan and fair critiques at times, but year after year he has kept the Gators as one of the premier programs in college baseball. Even this season, the worst regular season Florida has had with O'Sullivan, still ended with a trip Omaha.

In an age where everyone seems to be chasing the next big job, Gator fans should be thankful that O’Sullivan has stayed in Gainesville for almost two decades and hopefully for many more years to come.