Florida Gators Part Ways with Pitching Coach David Kopp

The Florida Gators baseball team has decided to part ways with pitching coach David Kopp, according to a report from the Gainesville Sun. This change follows a disappointing performance by the Gators' pitching staff during the Gainesville Regional, which was first noted by Baseball America.

Kopp joined the Gators’ coaching team in 2021 and took on the role of pitching coach in 2024. Under his guidance, the team's sophomore Aidan King achieved recognition as the SEC Pitcher of the Year, contributing to a staff that recorded a 4.61 ERA, 636 strikeouts, and 198 walks, placing Florida among the top 20 in several pitching metrics. However, inconsistency has plagued the Gators in critical moments, particularly evident during their recent regional outing, where they allowed 49 hits and 43 runs across four games.

One of the most notable performances came from Liam Peterson, who is projected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming MLB Draft, yet struggled significantly in the regional championship against Troy, giving up nine runs on ten hits. After the elimination, Florida head coach Kevin O’Sullivan stated, “Honestly, we need to evaluate this because we have to be more consistent all the way around,” highlighting concerns about their pitching and offensive consistency.

This season, Florida’s pitching staff faced further challenges, ending with a 6.05 ERA in 2024 and a 4.89 ERA in 2025, which was marred by injuries. Before his tenure with the Gators, Kopp was the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida Atlantic for four seasons.