Athletic director ties future to pivotal hires
GAINESVILLE — Gators athletic director Scott Stricklin navigates the central Florida hinterlands and spotty cellular service on a Friday afternoon en route to Lakeland, site of the Detroit Tigers’ spring training.
Back in Gainesville, three new head coaches are pushing to make it in the big leagues themselves.
Stricklin’s voice is at times garbled during his drive to see a longtime friend and Tigers’ pitching coach. At one point, the phone call drops.
Either way, the message is clear: the success of Billy Napier, Todd Golden and Kelly Rae Finley will be critical for the Gators’ future and perhaps Stricklin’s own in Gainesville.
The past several months have been a whirlwind and a sea change for one of the nation’s premier athletic programs and the man who oversees it.
“There were some moments of intensity there because you want to get it right and you want to do it to get the right person,” Stricklin told the Orlando Sentinel. “I’m really optimistic because I think we got some individuals who are going to be great fits and will work your tail off to get it done.”
Stunning turns of events in football and both basketball programs along with some difficult decisions and restless nights for Stricklin leave the Gators’ most high-profile programs with clean slates, renewed hope and endless possibilities.
While careful to respect previous coaches, the 51-year-old
Stricklin is eager to build new relationships and embark on a new direction.
“Anytime you do something new and different, there’s some excitement, for sure,” he said. “The three coaches we’ve hired, they all have really high ceilings. That’s got me as excited as anything.
“These coaches could generate a lot of enthusiasm, a lot of excitement and some good days for the Gators.”
To lay the foundation for a better future, Stricklin focused on three key elements.
“The relationship piece, the leadership piece and the schematic piece,” he said. “Can you relate to players? Can you lead, which ties into culture, accountability, putting a plan together? The other thing is: Can you put your team in a position to be successful on game day?
“Those first two in particular were really important to me.”
The football program’s inability to keep pace in recruiting caught up to Dan Mullen. The annual turnover in Mike White’s men’s basketball program led to inconsistency and eventually fan apathy before he left to take over Georgia’s program. Cam Newbauer’s alleged verbal abuse of his players and staff forced Stricklin to fire him within months of extending his contract as a show of faith despite the Gators’ 46-71 record during Newbauer’s four seasons.
In fact, all three former coaches received contract extensions in 2021.
Finley, a longtime Newbauer assistant, stepped in for her former boss on an interim basis. The 36-year-old led the Gators to their first 20-win season and NCAA tournament bid since 2016 while receiving an outpouring of support from Florida’s players. Stricklin awarding Finley a six-year, $3.7 million deal was a formality.