A Year of Highs, Lows, and Legacy Moments: Florida Gators’ Top 5 Sports Stories of 2025
The Florida Gators packed a decade’s worth of drama into a single year. From cutting down nets in San Antonio to coaching changes in The Swamp, 2025 was a year that reminded everyone just how much can change in 12 months - and just how passionate Gator Nation remains through it all.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the five biggest Florida Gators sports stories of the year - a mix of triumph, transition, and the kind of headlines that shape a program’s future.
5. A Coaching Legend Bids Farewell: Mary Wise Retires After 34 Seasons
You don’t replace a Mary Wise - you honor the legacy and build on the foundation. After 34 seasons at the helm of Florida women’s volleyball, Wise stepped away from the game on February 6, leaving behind one of the most decorated careers in NCAA history.
Her résumé reads like a volleyball Hall of Fame exhibit: eight Final Fours, two national runner-up finishes, and a staggering 25 SEC titles. Even more impressive?
Florida made the NCAA Tournament every single year she coached. That’s consistency on a level few programs - in any sport - can claim.
Wise exits with 987 career wins at Florida and 1,068 total, having started her head coaching career at Iowa State. Her impact extended beyond the court, helping elevate the SEC’s national volleyball profile.
The Gators turned to a familiar face in Ryan Theis, a former assistant under Wise and most recently the head coach at Marquette. He took over on February 18 and led Florida to a 16-12 record in his first season, including a trip to the NCAA Tournament, where they fell in the Round of 32 to host SMU.
4. Turbulence in the Dugout: Kevin O’Sullivan Suspended, Takes Leave
Florida baseball didn’t just miss the College World Series in 2025 - it hit a rough patch that extended well beyond the diamond.
After being bounced from the Conway, S.C., Regional by East Carolina, emotions boiled over. Head coach Kevin O’Sullivan was caught on video delivering a profanity-laced tirade aimed at NCAA officials over a start time change.
The video went viral, and the fallout was swift. O’Sullivan and athletic director Scott Stricklin issued public apologies, and the coach was handed a three-game suspension.
But the story didn’t end there.
On October 22, O’Sullivan announced he was taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. It later came to light that he was the subject of a child welfare investigation initiated by one of his teenage children. No crime was committed, but the situation added another layer of complexity to an already difficult season.
Florida confirmed on December 16 that O’Sullivan would return for the 2026 season, signaling a fresh chapter for a program that’s used to being in Omaha - not navigating off-field headlines.
3. The End of the Napier Era: Florida Football Makes a Change
Billy Napier’s fourth year in Gainesville was supposed to be the breakthrough. With momentum from four straight wins to close 2024 and 18 returning starters, expectations were high. But things unraveled quickly.
It started with an 18-16 upset loss to USF at The Swamp - a gut punch that kicked off a three-game losing skid, including road losses at LSU and Miami. A stunning upset win over No. 9 Texas briefly reignited hope, but a 34-17 loss at Texas A&M brought reality crashing back down.
Napier was let go after a narrow 23-21 win over Mississippi State on homecoming, finishing his Florida tenure with a 22-23 record - the program’s worst mark since the late 1940s under Raymond “Bear” Wolf.
Billy Gonzales stepped in as interim coach and went 1-4 to close the season, with the lone bright spot being a rivalry win over Florida State. Still, the Gators finished 4-8, missed a bowl game for the second time in three years, and posted their fourth losing season in five years. For a program with Florida’s pedigree, that’s a stretch that demands a reset.
2. A New Era Begins: Florida Hires Jon Sumrall as Head Football Coach
After parting ways with Napier, Florida set its sights high - initially targeting Ole Miss head coach Lane Kiffin. But with Kiffin trending toward LSU, the Gators pivoted to one of the hottest names in the coaching carousel: Tulane’s Jon Sumrall.
Florida landed their guy on November 30, signing Sumrall to a six-year, $44.7 million deal. At 43, he brings a strong résumé and a no-nonsense approach to a program that’s been searching for stability.
Sumrall coached Tulane through the postseason, guiding the Green Wave to an American Conference title with a win over North Texas and a College Football Playoff berth. Although Tulane fell to Ole Miss in the CFP, Sumrall’s 11-3 season capped a remarkable four-year run that includes a 43-12 record between Troy and Tulane.
Even while preparing for the postseason, Sumrall was assembling his Florida staff. His hires include Buster Faulkner from Georgia Tech as offensive coordinator and Kentucky’s Brad White as defensive coordinator - a blend of SEC familiarity and schematic versatility.
The Gators are betting on Sumrall’s leadership, recruiting chops, and proven ability to win in tough situations to bring Florida football back to national relevance.
1. Cutting Down Nets Again: Florida Men’s Basketball Wins National Championship
Let’s end with the crown jewel of Florida’s 2025 sports calendar - a national title run that reminded Gator fans of the glory days.
Led by senior All-American Walter Clayton Jr., Florida men’s basketball captured its third national championship and first since 2007. The Gators closed the season on a 12-game win streak, storming through the SEC Tournament - their first conference title since 2014 - and then the NCAA Tournament.
This wasn’t a cakewalk either. Florida had to claw back in four of their six tournament games, including a thrilling comeback from a 12-point deficit in the national title game against Houston. The Gators edged the Cougars 65-63 in San Antonio, delivering a moment that will live in program history.
At just 39 years old, head coach Todd Golden became the youngest to win a men’s national title since Jim Valvano in 1983. In only his third season at Florida, Golden has already etched his name alongside coaching legends in Gainesville.
Final Word
From championship highs to leadership changes, 2025 was a year that tested and defined Florida athletics. The Gators added a national title to the trophy case, said goodbye to a coaching icon, and turned the page in football with a new vision.
As college sports continue to evolve - with NIL, the transfer portal, and revenue sharing reshaping the landscape - Florida is positioning itself to compete at the highest level across all 19 sports. The foundation is there. Now it’s about building on it.
2025 was unforgettable. 2026? It’s already on the clock.