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Most schools consider reaching the NCAA postseason as a successful year in itself.
That is rightfully a successful season considering the landscape of college sports, but at Florida, the standards are even higher. Every coach on UF’s campus preaches that the goal is to win national championships.
This is Part 2 of The Gainesville Sun’s review of Florida’s athletic season. Grades were based on overall record, conference finish and postseason accolades.
Grade: A- | Last five-year average: 24.4 wins, 10.8 losses
It was a season that can only be best described as falling short of very high expectations for the defending national champs. The Gators got off to a slow start after falling to Arizona, Duke and UConn, but responded by running the table in the SEC, winning their first regular-season title since 2014 and securing a second straight No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament. However, UF was upset in the SEC tournament and then in the second round of March Madness. As a program, there was no shortage of accolades as Todd Golden was named SEC Coach of the Year while the star-filled front court of Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon racked up awards. Despite the season’s end, the team’s roster retention has created both excitement and even higher expectations for next season.
Grade: B- | Last five-year average: 21 wins, 9 losses
It’s never an easy task to replace a legendary coach, but Ryan Theis had the tall task of replacing Mary Wise. The Gators went 4-6 against Top 25 teams in Ryan Theis’ opening season. Yet, UF had a respectable season, finishing fifth in the conference standings and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament. Florida also had five different players earn all-conference honors.
Grade: A | Last five SEC Meet Results: 1st (2025), 3rd (2024), 1st (2023), 5th (2022), 6th (2021)
Last five NCAA Meet Results: 5th (2025), 12th (2024), 5th (2023), DNQ (2022), DNQ (2021)
It was an impressive year for Florida’s distance runners, who helped anchor the eventual triple crown in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. The achievement makes Florida the second program in 30 years to achieve the feat. The Gators claimed their second conference title in the last three years this past season. Senior Hilda Olemomoi and Judy Chepkoech had the highlight finishes of the season. Olemomoi finished third at the NCAA championships, while Chepkoech was the runner-up at the SEC championship.
Grade: C+| Last five SEC Meet Results: 11th (2025), 12th (2024), 7th (2023), 10th (2022), 7th (2021)
NCAA Results: Did not qualify last five years
The men’s program's drought in reaching the NCAA Championship Meet dragged on as the Gators haven’t made the meet since 2013. However, Kelvin Cheruiyot had one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory. The freshman from Kenya won both the SEC Men’s Championship and the South Regional Championship. That culminated in him finishing 14th at the NCAA championship. The men’s team did have its best finish in a regional in five years as the Gators finished seventh out of 27 teams, but struggled at the SEC meet with an 11th-place finish.
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at [email protected] or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Grading how Florida Gators teams did in 2025-26 season Part 2
Continue reading...
That is rightfully a successful season considering the landscape of college sports, but at Florida, the standards are even higher. Every coach on UF’s campus preaches that the goal is to win national championships.
This is Part 2 of The Gainesville Sun’s review of Florida’s athletic season. Grades were based on overall record, conference finish and postseason accolades.
Men’s basketball: 27-8 overall, 16-2 SEC
Grade: A- | Last five-year average: 24.4 wins, 10.8 losses
It was a season that can only be best described as falling short of very high expectations for the defending national champs. The Gators got off to a slow start after falling to Arizona, Duke and UConn, but responded by running the table in the SEC, winning their first regular-season title since 2014 and securing a second straight No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament. However, UF was upset in the SEC tournament and then in the second round of March Madness. As a program, there was no shortage of accolades as Todd Golden was named SEC Coach of the Year while the star-filled front court of Thomas Haugh, Rueben Chinyelu and Alex Condon racked up awards. Despite the season’s end, the team’s roster retention has created both excitement and even higher expectations for next season.
Volleyball: 16-12 overall, 9-6 SEC
Grade: B- | Last five-year average: 21 wins, 9 losses
It’s never an easy task to replace a legendary coach, but Ryan Theis had the tall task of replacing Mary Wise. The Gators went 4-6 against Top 25 teams in Ryan Theis’ opening season. Yet, UF had a respectable season, finishing fifth in the conference standings and reaching the second round of the NCAA tournament. Florida also had five different players earn all-conference honors.
Women’s Cross Country
Grade: A | Last five SEC Meet Results: 1st (2025), 3rd (2024), 1st (2023), 5th (2022), 6th (2021)
Last five NCAA Meet Results: 5th (2025), 12th (2024), 5th (2023), DNQ (2022), DNQ (2021)
It was an impressive year for Florida’s distance runners, who helped anchor the eventual triple crown in cross country, indoor track, and outdoor track. The achievement makes Florida the second program in 30 years to achieve the feat. The Gators claimed their second conference title in the last three years this past season. Senior Hilda Olemomoi and Judy Chepkoech had the highlight finishes of the season. Olemomoi finished third at the NCAA championships, while Chepkoech was the runner-up at the SEC championship.
Men’s Cross Country
Grade: C+| Last five SEC Meet Results: 11th (2025), 12th (2024), 7th (2023), 10th (2022), 7th (2021)
NCAA Results: Did not qualify last five years
The men’s program's drought in reaching the NCAA Championship Meet dragged on as the Gators haven’t made the meet since 2013. However, Kelvin Cheruiyot had one of the most memorable seasons in recent memory. The freshman from Kenya won both the SEC Men’s Championship and the South Regional Championship. That culminated in him finishing 14th at the NCAA championship. The men’s team did have its best finish in a regional in five years as the Gators finished seventh out of 27 teams, but struggled at the SEC meet with an 11th-place finish.
Reach Florida Gators writer Andrew Abadie at [email protected] or on X (formerly Twitter) at @AndrewAbadie. You can also find him on Facebook at Andrew Abadie Sports Reporter or on Instagram @andrewabadie_sports.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Grading how Florida Gators teams did in 2025-26 season Part 2
Continue reading...
