Columbia is bringing again Florida assistant Kevin Hovde as its new head basketball coach.
He’ll proceed with the Gators, who’re within the Candy 16 of the NCAA Event, till the top of their season.
Hovde was an assistant coach on the Ivy League program for 5 seasons from 2012-16, together with two seasons alongside present Gators head coach Todd Golden.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Kevin Hovde again to the Columbia household,” athletic director Peter Pilling mentioned in a information launch. “Our aim for our males’s basketball program is to win Ivy League Championships, and we imagine he’s the suitable particular person to guide us there. Kevin has a ardour for the sport, is dedicated to student-athlete improvement, and has a strategic strategy to teaching and recruiting with a confirmed observe document of success.”
Hovde replaces Jim Engles, who stepped down on March 10 after compiling a 71-150 document over eight seasons.
Columbia began 11-1 this season earlier than stumbling to a 1-13 convention document and a 12-15 end.
Hoyde mentioned he’s comfortable to be headed again to New York.
“Columbia is actually a particular place for my household and me, and we’re thrilled to be again,” he mentioned. “It is humbling to have the chance to develop younger males into leaders on and off the court docket at one of many prime universities on the planet. I’m desirous to get to work and construct a program our alumni and neighborhood could be pleased with.
After his stint at Columbia, Hovde was an assistant coach at San Francisco (2016-21) and his alma mater Richmond (2021-22) earlier than rejoining Golden at Florida forward of the 2022-23 marketing campaign. Golden was the pinnacle coach at San Francisco from 2019-22.
Hovde is the second Florida assistant coach to land a head teaching job this month. Campbell employed John Andrzejek final week.
The No. 1-seeded Gators (32-4) will tackle No. 4 seed Maryland on Thursday within the West Area in San Francisco.
–Discipline Stage Media
