Florida Sports Revamped
Florida Pushes Ahead With $1.45 Billion Stadium, Golf Upgrades, Plus Coaching Shakeup
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Key Points
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UF athletic director Scott Stricklin told “The Front 9” that the baseball press box will be moved “to the other side of the stadium and will be built brand new,” with the program pitching the upgrades as “Bigger. Better. Louder.” (The column adds: “How about Stop Losing Games.”)
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On the baseball coaching change, the report says Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan was “as devastated as you were about the regionals,” and that part of the urgency is roster volatility—Florida has “lost nine to the portal,” including Cade Kurland transferring to LSU and Cooper Walls to Georgia.
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For the U.S. Open at Shinnecock, the roundup notes that Jackson Ormand “will be a freshman next season” and was the “low amateur in the 36-hole qualifier with scores of 65 and 63,” with “USA Network and NBC” set to broadcast the tournament.
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In previewing the anticipated 2027 women’s draft class, the article details standout freshman moments: Hannah Hidalgo scored 31 points against eventual champion South Carolina “on the first day of the 2023-24 college basketball season,” MiLaysia Fulwiley drew acknowledgment from “Showtime himself, Magic Johnson,” and JuJu Watkins scored 32 to lead USC to an upset of No. 7 Ohio State.
The University of Florida has approved a $1.45 billion stadium renovation that will tear down and rebuild the press box on the opposite side of the stadium, The Front 9 reported on June 14. The announcement comes as UF baseball reels from an early postseason exit and nine players have left through the transfer portal.
The overhaul is part of a broader Florida athletics push the program is calling "Bigger. Better. Louder." — a slogan that drew a sharp response from columnist Pat Dooley, who wrote: "How about Stop Losing Games."
Press Box Moves as $1.45B Renovation Gets Underway
UF Athletic Director Scott Stricklin told The Front 9 the press box will be moved "to the other side of the stadium and will be built brand new." Construction on a new 36-hole golf course in Gainesville is also underway. The $1.45 billion project is one of the most expensive facility upgrades in college sports history.
At least one fan, cited by The Front 9 as "Kathryn Gator," has already requested cooled seats for the new stadium. The economic impact on Gainesville is expected to be significant, though critics argue no amount of construction fixes poor postseason performance.
O'Sullivan Fires Pitching Coach After Brutal Regional Loss
Florida baseball coach Kevin O'Sullivan was described as "devastated" by his team's early exit, according to The Front 9. The Gators lost to Troy 16-11 in the Gainesville Regional on June 1, finishing the season 41-21. The pitching staff posted a 4.61 ERA and allowed 43 runs across four regional games, per WRUF 98.1 FM.
O'Sullivan fired pitching coach David Kopp on June 5 and moved quickly to hire Rich Dorman from Oregon State. Dorman's staff led the nation with a 3.22 ERA in 2026, according to Sports Illustrated. He also produced 15 MLB draft picks and 10 All-Americans across seven seasons, per 247 Sports. Florida has since lost nine players to the transfer portal, including Cade Kurland to LSU and Cooper Walls to Georgia.
Incoming Freshman Ormand Shoots 128 to Qualify for Shinnecock
Jackson Ormand, who will be a freshman at UF next season, shot a 65 and a 63 in a 36-hole qualifier to earn a spot in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. His combined score of 128 made him the low amateur in the qualifier, The Front 9 reported on June 8. NBC and USA Network will broadcast the tournament.
Ormand will join fellow Gators Billy Horschel and Alex Tosti at Shinnecock. The qualification puts UF golf in the national spotlight and is being framed as a strong recruiting signal for the program going forward.
Women's 2027 Draft Class Already Turning Heads as Freshmen
The Athletic highlighted the early rise of the 2027 WNBA draft class, calling it the most anticipated group in years. Hannah Hidalgo scored 31 points against eventual champion South Carolina on the very first day of the 2023-24 college basketball season. JuJu Watkins scored 32 to lead USC past No. 7 Ohio State. MiLaysia Fulwiley drew praise from Magic Johnson himself.
Analysts describe the class as "wing-heavy" and more athletic than recent draft cycles. The Athletic notes these players are seen as direct successors to the Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese wave of talent. Some scouts caution, however, that a lack of top-level big players in the class could create a positional mismatch for teams drafting in the top five.
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