Kevin O'Sullivan, Scott Stricklin release statement over Conway Regional blowup, controversy

Florida saw its 2025 season end in Conway, losing to East Carolina on Sunday morning. Any head coach would be angry to lose in the NCAA Tournament, ending the campaign. Kevin O’Sullivan appeared to be at a different level of intensity, though, mainly due to something unrelated to the game itself.

A statement has since been released on the situation by O’Sullivan and Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin. Both of them apologized to the entire Conway Regional, mainly O’Sullivan for his actions.

“Prior to yesterday’s NCAA Tournament game against East Carolina, I let my emotions get the best of me and channeled that energy in a way I should not have,” O’Sullivan said. “I want to sincerely apologize for my actions and behavior to the entire NCAA Regional field of Coastal Carolina, East Carolina, and Fairfield, the NCAA — including site representatives Rich French and Mark Scalf — as well as all of Gator Nation.

“I did not represent the University of Florida to the appropriate standard yesterday and I take full responsibility for that, and promise to learn from this experience and be better moving forward. I appreciate all of the tireless efforts on behalf hosts Coastal Carolina, their Tournament Director Bryan Stiles, and the NCAA over the course of the NCAA regionals, and am sorry for allowing this instance to get in the way of an otherwise great weekend of postseason baseball.”

Stricklin added, “This afternoon, I met with Kevin O’Sullivan and told him that his actions prior to yesterday’s NCAA Tournament game fell well short of expectations of how Gators treat people. One of our department’s core values is respect, and Coach O’Sullivan’s unacceptable actions failed to demonstrate that. On behalf of Florida Athletics, I want to personally apologize to everyone impacted — including NCAA representatives, Coastal Carolina and their staff, East Carolina and their team — as well as to Gator Nation.”

Florida and East Carolina faced off in an elimination game with the loser going home and whoever won would get to face Coastal Carolina in the Regional Final. Of course, East Carolina took down Florida before dropping a game to Coastal Carolina, sending the Chanticleers to the Super Regionals.

O’Sullivan was reportedly upset before the game started, going after NCAA site officials and even people who worked for Coastal Carolina. Video emerged of some of the confrontations, where O’Sullivan is visibly and audibly unsettled. Later reports even said the Florida head coach spoke toward East Carolina players on the field too.

Coastal Carolina HC Kevin Schnall rips Kevin O’Sullivan

Following reports that Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan had gotten demonstrably upset with a schedule change on the third day of the Conway Regional, Coastal Carolina coach Kevin Schnall chimed in. He was not happy.

And that might be putting it mildly. Schnall went after the Florida baseball coach after his team knocked off East Carolina to win the regional.

“One last thing I have is I have to say this and I don’t know if I’m supposed to say this or not,” Schnall told reporters with a steely look on his face. “But I believe in standing up for what’s right, and what transpired this morning on our field, another coach disrespected our associate AD, who works as hard as anybody in our entire program. He disrespected our field crew, who are the salt of the earth. These guys would do anything for our program. It’s not OK. And this needs to be brought up.”

On3’s Thomas Goldkamp contributed to this report