The Florida Gators baseball program has parted ways with pitching coach David Kopp, according to Baseball America and confirmed by sources.
The decision comes after a difficult postseason stretch where the Gators' pitching staff struggled, particularly during the Gainesville Regional.
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Kopp's Tenure and Performance
Kopp joined the Gators coaching staff in 2021 and took over pitching coach duties ahead of the 2024 season.
During the 2024 campaign, the team recorded a 6.05 ERA, followed by a 4.89 ERA in an injury-plagued 2025 season.
Despite these numbers, the staff achieved notable milestones, including sophomore Aidan King being named SEC Pitcher of the Year.
The Gators finished the 2025 season with a 4.61 ERA, 636 strikeouts, and 198 walks, ranking in the top 20 nationally in several pitching categories.
However, inconsistency on the mound during high-stakes postseason moments persisted over the last few years.
In the Gainesville Regional, Florida pitchers allowed 49 hits and 43 runs across four games.
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Projected first-round MLB Draft pick Liam Peterson surrendered nine runs on 10 hits in the regional championship game against Troy.
Before his time with the Gators, Kopp served four seasons as pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida Atlantic.
Coach O'Sullivan's Remarks
Following the elimination by Troy, head coach Kevin O'Sullivan emphasized the need for evaluation.
"Honestly, we need to evaluate this because we have to be more consistent all the way around," O'Sullivan said.
"Offensively, we went through some spurts this year where we were a little inconsistent.
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At this time of year, we shouldn't be having these issues with the walks and that kind of thing."
