Florida baseball hires Tom Slater as acting head coach amid program turmoil

Florida has announced Tom Slater as its new associate head coach and acting coach. His arrival comes after Chuck Jeroloman left to become the top assistant under Josh Elander at Tennessee.

Slater spent the last two years with the Philadelphia Phillies, working in player development, and worked as the Miami Marlins’ minor league hitting coordinator from 2021-24. He was also the New York Mets’ hitting coach from 2018-21.

Slater previously worked in college baseball as the head coach at Auburn from 2005-08 and was an assistant coach at Florida in 2004. Now, he will fill the role previously held by Jeroloman, who was serving as UF’s acting head coach while Kevin O’Sullivan took a leave of absence before leaving for Tennessee this week.

“Tom Slater brings a wealth of experience, leadership, and deep Gator ties to this role,” said Florida AD Scott Stricklin in a statement. “With more than three decades in college and professional baseball – including extensive experience in the SEC – he’s earned universal respect across the game. We’re excited to welcome him and Beth back to Gainesville.”

Slater began his coaching career in 1991 after playing at the Virginia Military Institute. He had stops at Marshall, VMI and Auburn before taking over at his alma mater in 2001. Following the 2003 season, he arrived in Gainesville as an assistant coach and later took over as Auburn’s head coach from 2005-08.

Between his two head coaching stops, Slater amassed a 165-213 overall record. He then joined the New York Yankees’ system, serving the manager of the Gulf Coast League Yankees from 2009-10 and Staten Island Yankees in 2011. He stayed in the Yankees’ system until 2018 when the Mets hired him as hitting coach.

Florida announced earlier this month that O’Sullivan would be taking a leave of absence to attend to personal issues. D1Baseball’s Kendall Rogers reported O’Sullivan is expected to return to the Gators later this fall. In the meantime, the Florida skipper said he has the support of the UF athletics department as he steps away.

“I appreciate the support of the University and athletic department,” O’Sullivan said. “I have some personal and family issues that need my full attention at this time.”

O’Sullivan has been Florida‘s head coach since the 2008 season. In that time, he has led the Gators to a 756-371 record, 10 NCAA Tournament appearances, nine Super Regional appearances, seven College World Series appearances and a national championship in 2017.