Additional details emerge on Georgia hiring Mike White from Florida
After the news that Florida basketball head coach Mike White was hired away by Georgia on Sunday, additional details emerged regarding the shocking move. White had been extended through the 2027 season with Florida, and Georgia will pay Florida for the early buyout of his contract.
Mike White leaving Florida additional details
“Instead of being on the hot seat at Florida next season, White gets a new deal and a fresh start at UGA,” stated ESPN’s Pete Thamel. “He’d been extended through 2027 at Florida. UGA will pay Florida about $1.25 million in buyout money.”
The move came as a surprise initially when reported on Sunday, but ultimately it appeared to be a best case scenario for both schools. White’s time at Florida appeared to be coming to a head after a disappointing end to their 2021-22 season, and Georgia was in desperate need for a fresh start after firing Tom Crean just days before.
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In White’s seven seasons with Florida, the Gators have been an ever-present name in the NCAA Tournament. In his final season, Florida finished with a 19-13 record and a loss to Texas A&M in the SEC Tournament. Florida made four straight tournaments before this season, from 2017-2021, and the downwards turn for White’s team appeared to be another factor in his decision to move on from the school.
In each of their four appearances in the NCAA Tournament during that time, Florida won at least one game, making them one of just six teams in the nation to do so. In 2017, Florida entered the tournament as a No. 4 seed and advanced to the Elite Eight before falling to a fellow SEC team in South Carolina.
College basketball insiders explain White’s decision
According to Mark Long of the Associated Press, the decision shows how bad the relationship between coach and school had become over the past years. White feared it would impact his family.
“Mike White leaving Florida for Georgia shows just how badly he and his family wanted out,” Long posted on Twitter. “It had become really toxic with a vocal segment of the fanbase, and White didn’t want his young kids affected by it at school and via social media.”
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello added that despite some recent success, Mike White’s inability to reach the point his predecessor did knocked his tenure off track.
“Mike White had won at least one game in four consecutive NCAA tournaments before this season — but Florida wasn’t going to make it this year,” said Borzello. “And he wasn’t Billy Donovan, so there was some tension there. There was speculation he could leave this offseason, so Georgia it is.”
On3’s James Fletcher III contributed to this article.