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Kevin Olsen rejoins Florida in new role on Todd Golden's staff

On3 imageby: Zach Abolverdi07/30/25ZachAbolverdi
Kevin-Olsen-lorida-Gators
Florida director of basketball strategy and analytics Kevin Olsen. (Maddie Washburn/UAA Communications)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida Gators men’s basketball Todd Golden has tabbed a former assistant to fill another opening on his staff. Kevin Olsen comes back to UF after his second stint at his alma mater, the University of San Francisco.

Olsen has been hired as Florida’s as director of basketball strategy and analytics. The position on Golden’s staff opened after he promoted Jonathan Safir to assistant coach this offseason, filling one of his two coaching vacancies.

Olsen, UF’s video coordinator in 2022-23, returns to Gainesville after two years as assistant coach at San Francisco. He also spent three seasons with the Dons on Golden staff, first as head student manager and later as a graduate assistant.

Olsen, a native of Villa Park, Calif., then followed Golden to Florida for his inaugural season. From 2023-25 as an assistant coach at San Francisco, Olsen helped the Dons to a 48-21 record during that time with two NIT appearances.

USF beat Saint Mary’s and Oregon State in 2024-25, along with a WCC Tournament win vs. Washington State and an NIT victory against Utah Valley. In 2023-24, USF had wins vs. Big Ten (Minnestoa) and Big East (DePaul) opponents.

Olsen attended Irvine Valley College, where he was a team captain on the men’s basketball team. He also coached with West Coast Elite Basketball while attending Irvine Valley. Olsen graduated from USF with a degree in sociology in 2021.

In addition to Safir’s promotion, the Gators also hired New York University coach Dave Klatsky as an assistant coach. Klatsky and Safir fill the openings on the staff from Kevin Hovde, who is now Columbia’s head coach after three seasons at Florida, and John Andrzejek, who was hired as the head coach at Campbell following two years with UF.

In June, a third member from Golden’s national championship staff was hired away by another program for a promotion. Jordan Talley, who spent three seasons with the Gators as a player development assistant, joined Duquesne University as an assistant coach.

Florida opens the 2025-26 season on Monday, Nov. 3 against Arizona in the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas.

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