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Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan (Photo by Eddie Kelly / ProLook Photos)
Florida on Monday afternoon released statements from athletic director Scott Stricklin and head baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan after the latter unleashed an expletive-laced tirade on NCAA officials due to a late time change to Florida’s game East Carolina in the Conway Regional on Sunday.
Multiple videos of the incident have since surfaced, showing O’Sullivan berating several individuals. He also reportedly engaged with East Carolina players as they entered the field.
“This afternoon I met with Kevin O’Sullivan and told him that his actions prior to yesterday’s NCAA Tournament game fell well short of expectations of how Gators treat people,” Stricklin said in his statement. “One of our department’s core values is respect, and Coach O’Sullivan’s unacceptable actions failed to demonstrate that. On behalf of Florida Athletics, I want to personally apologize to everyone impacted – including NCAA representatives, Coastal Carolina and their staff, East Carolina and their team – as well as to Gator Nation.”
O’Sullivan acknowledged his wrongdoing and apologized.
“Prior to yesterday’s NCAA Tournament game against East Carolina, I let my emotions get the best of me and channeled that energy in a way I should not have,” O’Sullivan said. “I want to sincerely apologize for my actions and behavior to the entire NCAA Regional field of Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Fairfield, the NCAA – including site representatives Rick French and Mark Scalf – as well as all of Gator Nation.
“I did not represent the University of Florida to the appropriate standard yesterday and take full responsibility for that, and promise to learn from this experience and be better moving forward. I appreciate all of the tireless efforts on behalf of host Coastal Carolina, their Tournament Director Bryan Stiles, and the NCAA over the course of NCAA Regionals, and am sorry for allowing this instance to get in the way of an otherwise great weekend of postseason baseball.”
O’Sullivan’s actions drew sharp criticism from Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall, who alleged that the Florida coach also berated Chanticleers groundskeepers
“I believe in standing up for what’s right,” Schnall said. “What transpired this morning on our field, another coach disrespected our associate AD, who works as hard as anybody in our entire program. He disrespected our field crew, who are the salt of the earth. These guys would do anything for our program. It’s not OK. And this needs to be brought up. Absolutely disrespectful. As a coach, it’s our job to mentor young kids.”
Schnall went on to admonish O’Sullivan for his treatment of NCAA officials.
“And the way he treated the two site reps, the way he treated our associate AD, the way he treated our field crew is absolutely unacceptable,” Schnall added. “And I’m really, that’s what I’m most disappointed about. This is a national champion coach who thinks he can come in here and try to bully people around. Disappointed. Disappointed. Somebody that a lot of coaches look up to. For him to act that way, really disappointed. He disrespected a Hall of Fame coach who’s the site rep here. That’s all I’ve got to say.”
Florida was eliminated from the Conway Regional after an 11-4 loss to East Carolina on Sunday afternoon.
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