GAINESVILLE — UF announced baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan is taking a leave absence from his duties with the Gators to address personal matters, effective immediately.

Associate head coach Chuck Jeroloman will replace O’Sullivan on interim basis.

“I appreciate the support of the University and athletic department,” O’Sullivan said in a statement. “I have some personal and family issues that need my full attention at this time.”

The school suspended O’Sullivan three games to open the 2026 season, his 19th at the school, because of his obscenity-laced tirade at an NCAA baseball regional, where the Gators’ 2025 season ended. If. he returns, O’Sullivan, 56, will miss opening weekend Feb. 13-15 against UAB in Gainesville because of his actions during the Conway Regional at Coastal Carolina.

“Coach O’Sullivan has our full support as he takes the time he needs to focus on personal matters,” athletic director Scott Stricklin said. “We appreciate his openness in communicating this decision, and respect his need for privacy.”

Before the Gators’ 11-4 season-ending loss to East Carolina University on June 1, O’Sullivan berated a staff member on site for the Conway Regional hosted by Coastal Carolina while someone recorded the incident and later posted it on social media.

At the time, Stricklin said his coach’s behavior “fell well short of expectations of how Gators treat people.”

At issue was UF’s elimination game with ECU moving from noon to 1 p.m. because the Pirates’ loss Saturday to Coastal Carolina did not end until close to midnight. Video showed O’Sullivan unleash more than a dozen expletives in the span of 47 seconds.

UF (39-22) was the No. 2 seed in the regional and appeared to have an opportunity to advance. Instead, the Gators allowed 22 runs to ECU during a pair of lopsided losses and exited the NCAA tourney without getting to the Super Regional for the third time since 2021.

Known for his fiery demeanor and his long record of success, O’Sullivan has coached Florida to 17 straight NCAA tourney appearances, highlighted by the Gators’ 2017 national title.

Edgar Thompson can be reached at egthompson@orlandosentinel.com.

Originally Published: October 22, 2025 at 4:55 PM EDT