The University of Florida baseball program announced the departure of pitching coach David Kopp after four seasons, a move triggered by the team's underwhelming showing at the Gainesville Regional. Despite a roster that included SEC Pitcher of the Year Aidan King, the Gators' staff posted ERAs of 6.05 in 2024 and 4.89 in a injury‑filled 2025 campaign, numbers that fell short of expectations.
A turbulent season for the Gators' pitching staff
The staff recorded 636 strikeouts and 198 walks, yet surrendered 49 hits and 43 runs across four regional games. A particularly stark example came when first‑round draft prospect Liam Peterson yielded nine runs on ten hits to Troy in the championship game.
Coach Mike O’Sullivan emphasized that the program needed greater consistency, especially in high‑pressure moments, and noted that the team's performance in the regional tournament highlighted those shortcomings.
Looking ahead
Kopp's exit follows a tenure that began in 2021 when he also served as recruiting coordinator at Florida Atlantic, where he refined his coaching approach. The athletic department will now commence a search for a new pitching coach, hoping to translate the evident talent on the roster into more reliable outings and restore the program's competitive edge in the SEC.