Gator Bites: Florida Gators golf coach J.C. Deacon talks NCAA title -- and the future of the program
It was a heck of a run for the Florida Gators golf program this past season. First came an SEC title. Then came the biggest prize of all, a national championship. For Florida, it was NCAA crown No. 5 but the first time the Gators had won the NCAA team title, individual title and conference title in the same season.
With all of this added to his resume, it wasn’t a surprise Florida’s J.C. Deacon was named National Coach of the Year by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Having just completed his ninth season in Gainesville, Deacon caught up with Gators Online this week to talk about the 2022-23 season, what he lost from that championship team, what’s coming back and what we need to know about his newest addition to the program.
GATORS ONLINE: How long did you celebrate the national title before it was back to work?
DEACON: Three days. Had an amazing weekend with some of our best friends at the beach in Sarasota.
GATORS ONLINE: “You obviously had some stars on the team this past season (Fred Biondi, Ricky Castillo, John DuBois and Yuxin Lin were All-Americans), but there are lots of strong rosters in college golf. At the end of the day, what did this team have that pushed it across the finish line?
DEACON: Experience. Competitiveness. Work ethic. And beating Vanderbilt (the best team in college golf) in the finals of the SEC gave us the ultimate belief that arguably we were the best team.”
Florida’s national title was the first for Deacon and fifth for the program overall
GATORS ONLINE: Was there one event, or one moment during the season when you thought to yourself a championship finish was possible?
DEACON: “When we outplayed Illinois in Augusta. It was the event leading into the postseason and we didn’t flinch down the stretch. They are an amazing program and we went toe to toe with them and won convincingly. That was a big day.”
GATORS ONLINE: Be honest … how nervous did you get during the national semifinal when Florida fell behind FSU? At times, it didn’t look too good for you all.
DEACON: “I wasn’t as nervous as I was with John DuBois on the final hole trying to beat Vandy at the SEC. Everything after that seemed a little easier. Was doing my best to stay in the moment, but yeah FSU had us. We just didn’t back down and King Rick buried one of the greatest putts in Gator Golf history to send us to the final.”
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GATORS ONLINE: At the NCAA regionals, it wasn’t a sure thing you’d even make the cut. The night before that final round, what was your message to the team?
DEACON: “I reminded them that we’ve come back from something like this before (2021 NCAA Regional) and that it takes as little as two holes to tie the game. Sure enough Michigan State got off to a tough start and we made some early birdies. We caught up to them through three holes, but it was a tight all the way until 17 when Castillo made a 45-footer for birdie and (Matthew) Kress birdied 18. Then we could breathe a little.”
GATORS ONLINE: On the wall of Gator golf greats, where would you put Dudley Hart? All-American player at Florida. NCAA team runner-up. Solid PGA Tour player. And now, assistant coach on the program’s fifth national championship squad.
DEACON: “Arguably the best ever now? Coming back and winning an SEC and national title as a coach. Not sure anyone has given as much to Gator Golf as Dudley continues to.”
GATORS ONLINE: Surprised at all with Ricky Castillo’s strong start on the Korn Ferry Tour? (He won his first event)
DEACON: “None of us are. He was born to do this.”
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GATORS ONLINE: Best guess as to when Ricky, Fred and Yuxin will all be on the PGA Tour?
DEACON: “Next year!”
GATORS ONLINE: On the recruiting trail, you’re now able to pitch the national title — and your aid in the development of those three stars I just mentioned. What’s the reaction been from top prospects?
DEACON: “Incredible. We are going to get us some great players going forward. Players that really want it and aren’t afraid of the spotlight Florida provides.”
GATORS ONLINE: Okay, you lost a lot from that 2023 team. How good can you be next season — and who are some of the guys we should know about?
DEACON: “We’ll see. No one thinks we are going to be any good, but we’ll see. I have a lot of belief in our guys and how we are developing them. Time will tell.”
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GATORS ONLINE: You recently landed a huge transfer in Ian Gilligan of Long Beach State. What impresses you most about his game?
DEACON: “Everything! Ian is a gamer and super talented. He’s good at everything and has shown the ability to take it deep. We are going to make him even better as well.”
GATORS ONLINE: There’s a lot of chatter out there about Florida getting a new golf facility down the road. What can you tell us about that?
DEACON: “We will see what happens. We are always trying to do everything in our power to become the best program in college golf.”
