Todd Golden sees 2nd Florida assistant take head coaching job

​The University of Florida’s men’s basketball program, under the leadership of head coach Todd Golden, is experiencing significant changes within its coaching staff as two assistant coaches have recently accepted head coaching positions elsewhere.​

John Andrzejek, who has been instrumental in Florida’s recent successes, was announced as the new head coach at Campbell University on March 20, 2025. In response to Andrzejek’s departure, Coach Golden plans to promote Jonathan Safir, the current Director of Strategy and Analytics, to fill the vacant assistant coach position. Safir has been with Florida for three seasons, having previously worked with Golden at the University of San Francisco from 2018 to 2022

In addition to Andrzejek’s move, Kevin Hovde, another key assistant coach, has accepted the head coaching role at Columbia University. Hovde, who previously served as an assistant at Columbia from 2012 to 2016, returns to lead the Lions after Florida’s season concludes in the NCAA Tournament. Athletic Director Peter Pilling expressed confidence in Hovde’s ability to guide the team to Ivy League Championships, citing his passion, strategic approach, and commitment to student-athlete development.

These departures highlight the dynamic nature of collegiate coaching staffs, especially within successful programs like Florida’s. As the Gators continue their NCAA Tournament journey, Coach Golden remains focused on maintaining the team’s momentum and addressing the evolving composition of his coaching staff.