UF invests in the future, extends Todd Golden 6 years, $40.5 million

Scott Stricklin, Todd Golden embrace after national championship game (Photo by Chris Spears)

Consider the 6-year extension that will keep Todd Golden at the University of Florida at least through 2031 as both a reward for the 2025 national championship and an investment into the future. Golden’s new deal will pay $40.5 million, making him one of the five highest paid Division I basketball coaches.

“Todd has done an incredible job getting Florida men’s basketball back where it belongs,” athletic director Scott Stricklin said. “We believed in his vision, his competitive nature and his modern approach to the game back in 2022, and he has validated that belief in a relatively short time and helped create memories of a lifetime for another generation of Gator fans.”

Stricklin hired Golden from San Francisco just five days after former UF coach Mike White was announced as Georgia’s new coach. At San Francisco, Golden compiled a 57-36 record with an NCAA appearance in 2022.

In his three years on the job at Florida, Golden is 76-33 overall. His first UF team went 16-17, finishing the season with a loss to UCF in the NIT. The Gators made it to the SEC Tournament championship game and the first round of the NCAA Tournament in year two, finishing 24-12. The Gators won the SEC Tournament and their last 12 games in 2025, beating Houston in the NCAA championship game in San Antonio.

Golden was paid $4 million in 2024-25, the first year of a 2-year extension he received after taking the Gators to the NCAA last season.

“My family and I are grateful to be a part of Gator Nation and for the opportunity to lead this great program three years ago,” Golden said. “As we’ve shown during our time in Gainesville, the University of Florida is an institution that has the resources, support, and people in place to compete and win national championships. I am so appreciative of each and every player and staff member who have been critical to the success we’ve experienced here. My family and I look forward to our future here at UF and to the continued success of our men’s basketball program.”

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Just when it seemed the Gators were about to sign Southern Cal transfer guard Desmond Claude, the deal is off the table. Claude visited Florida last week and multiple sources indicated a commitment to UF seemed imminent, but as things dragged out, it was clear there was a disconnect. A couple of sources have confided that Florida made an offer but when Claude wanted to shop the offer, Golden slammed the door shut on the deal.

Florida still has some very good options from the transfer portal, plus there are some very talented international players.

Portal possibilities for UF

Kris Parker (6-9, 210, FR, from Villanova): The Quincy native is being linked to Florida, Miami and Florida State.

Cade Tyson (6-7, 200, JR, from North Carolina): Don’t judge him on what happened at UNC, where he was a terrible fit. When he was killing it at Belmont he narrowed his transfer options to UNC and Florida. Belmont is where Will Richard came from.

Dovydas Butka (6-9, 215, FR, from Pepperdine): This would be a great fit for Florida. He’s strong, rebounds, plays defense and he has three years eligibility remaining.

Trent McLaughlin (6-6, 190, SR, from Northern Arizona): One and done who averaged 22.1 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game last season. Can score or play the point.

Julian Hammond III (6-2, 180, SR, from Colorado): Averaged 12.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.2 assists in an up tempo offense where he shot 37.5 percent from the 3-point line and 90.4 percent at the foul line.

Savo Drezgic (6-4, 200, FR, from Georgia): He was a star for Serbia’s U18 silver medal team in the FIBA Euros. Georgia was clueless. UF had him on the radar before he signed with Georgia. Point who can score who should have four years eligibility.

Hayden Gray (6-4, 190, SO, from UC-San Diego): Defensive player of the year in the Big West. Point guard who can shoot.  

Isaiah Hawthorne (6-8, 210, from Northern Colorado): Got his start   playing for Todd Golden at San Francisco. At Northern Colorado this past season he averaged 17.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while shooting 35 percent on his threes.

International possibility

Ben Henshall (6-7, 200, Perth, Australia): Alex Condon’s buddy from Perth. Hybrid perimeter/post guy.

The SEC and the transfer portal

ALABAMA

Goners: PF Jarin Stephenson (6-11, 210, SO, to North Carolina); SF Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, SO, to Kentucky); SF Naas Cunningham (6-7, 175, FR, to UNLV); SF Derrion Reed (6-8, 220, FR, to Oklahoma)

Newbies: PG Jalil Bethea (6-5, 190, FR, from Miami); PF Taylor Bol Bowen (6-10, 205, SO, from Florida State); C Noah Williamson (7-0, 224, JR, from Bucknell); SF Keitenn Bristow (6-8, 190, FR, from Tarleton State)

ARKANSAS

Goners: C Zvonimir Ivisic (7-2, to Illinois); PG Casmir Chavis (6-0, 180, FR); PG Boogie Fland (6-2, 210, FR)

Newbies: C Nick Pringle (6-10, 220, SR, from South Carolina); PF Malique Ewin (6-10, 220, SO, from Florida State)

AUBURN

Goners: SG Jahki Howard (6-6, 185, FR, to Utah); SG Chad Baker-Mazara (6-7, 180, SR, to Southern Cal); PG JP Pegues (6-1, 175, SR); PF Addarin Scott (6-9, 207, FR, to UM-Kansas City)

Newbies: Keyshawn Hall (6-7, 240, JR, from UCF); PF KeShawn Murphy (6-10, 245, JR, from Mississippi State); SG Kevin Overton (6-5, 190, SO, from Texas Tech); SF Elyjah Freeman (6-8, 200, FR, from Lincoln Memorial)

FLORIDA

Goners: PG Kajus Kublicas (6-2, 180, SO, to Pacific); PG Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, JR, to Kentucky); PF Sam Alexis (6-9, 240, JR, to Indiana)

Newbies: PG Xaivian Lee (6-4, 180, SR, from Princeton); SG AJ Brown (6-5, 200, RSO, from Ohio U)

GEORGIA

Goners: Silas Demery Jr. (6-5, 195, JR, to UConn); PG Savo Drezgic (6-4, 200, FR); PF RJ Godfrey (6-7, 225, JR, to Clemson); SG DeShayne Montgomery (6-4, 190, SO, to Dayton); SG Jordyn Kee (6-3, 185, FR, to Miami)

Newbies: Justin Bailey (6-3, 185, JR, from Wofford); PG Jeremiah Wilkinson (6-1, 185, FR, from California); SF Kanon Catchings (6-9, 190, FR, from BYU); PG Smurf Millender (5-11, 180, SO, from UT-San Antonio); PG Jordan Ross (6-3, 175, SO, from Saint Mary’s)

KENTUCKY

Goners: PG Kerr Kriisa (6-3, 180, JR, to Cincinnati); SG Grant Darbyshire (6-2, 190, JR); SG Walker Horn (6-1, 200, JR); PG Travis Perry (6-1, 188, FR, to Ole Miss)

Newbies: C Jayden Quaintance (6-9, 225, FR, from Arizona State); SF Mouhamed Dioubate (6-7, 215, SO, from Alabama); PG Jaland Lowe (6-2, 170, SO, from Pittsburgh); PF Kam Williams (6-8, 190, FR, from Tulane); PG Denzel Aberdeen (6-5, 190, JR, from Florida); C Reece Potter (7-1, 210, SO, From Miami Ohio)

LSU

Goners: SG Vyctorius Miller (6-5, 185, FR, to Oklahoma State); PF Corey Chest (6-8, 220, FR, to Ole Miss); PF Daimion Collins (6-9, 202, SR); PF Noah Boyde (7-0, 245, JR, to Western Kentucky); SG Mike Williams (6-3, 180, SO); SG Tyrell Ward (6-6, 195, JR, to VCU); PG Curtis Givens (6-3, 185, FR)

Newbies: PF Marquel Sutton (6-7, 205, JR, from Nebraska-Omaha); SG Max McKinnon (6-5, 200, JR, from Pepperdine); SG Rashad King (6-6, 198, JR, from Northeastern); PG Dedan Thomas (6-0, 175, FR, from UNLV); C Michael Nwoko (6-10, 245, SO, from Mississippi State); PF Lassina Traore (6-10, 230, SR, from Xavier); SF Pablo Tamba (6-6, 220, JR, from UC-Davis); SG PJ Carter (6-5, 175, JR, from Memphis)

MISSISSIPPI STATE

Goners: C Michael Nwoko (6-10, 245, SO, to LSU); PF KeShawn Murphy (6-10, 245, JR to Auburn); SG Riley Kugel (6-5, 210, JR, to UCF); PG Kanye Clary (5-11, 190, JR, to Oklahoma State); SF Adrian Myers (6-6, 205, FR, to San Jose State); C Jeremy Foumena (6-11, 235, SO, to UCF); SF Harrison Alexander (6-4, 190, FR, to Southern Illinois-Edwardsville); PF EJ Paymon (6-9, 230, FR)

Newbies: C Quincy Ballard (6-11, 240, SR, from Wichita State); PG Ja’Borri McGhee (6-0, 200, FR, from UAB); SF Amier Ali (6-8, 185, FR, from Arizona State); PF Achor Achor (6-9, 222, SO, from Kansas State)

MISSOURI

Goners: C Josh Gray (7-0, 260; SR); SG Marcus Allen (6-7, 200, FR, to Miami); SF Aidan Shaw (6-9, 210, JR, to Boston College); C Peyton Marshall (7-0, 300, FR, to Georgia Tech)

Newbies: SG Sebastian Mack (from UCLA); C Luke Northweather (6-11, 240, RSO from Oklahoma); PF Jevon Porter (6-11, 235, JR, from Loyola Marymount); C Shawn Phillips (7-0, 245, JR, from Arizona State); SG Jayden Stone (6-4, 180, SR, from West Virginia)

OKLAHOMA

Goners: C Luke Northweather (6-11, 240, RSO to Missouri); SG Duke Miles (6-2, 175, SR, to Texas A&M); SF Jacolb-Fredson Cole (6-7, 220, FR to McNeese); C YaYa Keita (6-9, 241, JR)

Newbies: PG Nijel Pack (6-0, 180, SR, from Miami); SF Tae Davis (6-9, 240. from Notre Dame); PG Xzayvier Brown (6-2, 165, SO, from Saint Joseph’s); SF Derrion Reed (6-8, 220, FR, from Alabama)

OLE MISS

Goners: C John Bol (7-2, 210, FR); SG TJ Caldwell (6-4, 190, JR, to Arkansas State); SG Robert Cowherd (6-5, 200, SO); PF Ja’Von Benson (6-7, 251, SR)

Newbies: PF Corey Chest (6-8, 220, FR, from LSU); PG Koren Johnson (6-2, 175, RSO, from Louisville); SF AJ Storr (6-6, 200, JR, from Kansas); PG Travis Perry (6-1, 188, FR, from Kentucky); PF Augusto Cassia (6-8, 220, SO, from Butler)

SOUTH CAROLINA

Goners: PF Okku Federiko (6-8, 220, FR); SF Morris Ugusuk (6-4, 170, SO, to West Virginia); PG Jamarii Thomas (6-0, 185, SR); PG Meechie Johnson (6-2, 175, SR, to Ohio State); SG Austin Herro (6-3, 180, FR, to St. Thomas); C Nick Pringle (6-10, 220, SR, to Arkansas); SG Arden Conyers (6-7, 204, FR); SG Zachary Davis (6-7, 200, JR, to Memphis)

Newbies: SG Kobe Knox (6-5, 185, JR, from South Florida); C Christ Essendoko (7-0, 285, SO, from Providence); PF Elijah Strong (6-8, 220, SO, from Boston College); PG Mike Sharavjamts (6-9, 180, JR, from Utah); PF Nordin Kapic (6-8, 245, FR, from UC-San Diego)

TENNESSEE

Newbies: PF Jaylen Carey (6-8, 265, SO, from Vanderbilt); PG Ja’Kobi Gillespie (6-1, 175, JR, from Maryland); SG Amaree Abram (from Louisiana Tech)

TEXAS

Goners: PF Jamie Vinson (6-11, 225, FR, to Texas A&M); SF Devon Pryor (6-7, 180, FR, to Oregon); SG Malik Presley (6-6, 200, FR)

Newbies: SF Dailyn Swain (6-7, 200, SO, from Xavier); SF Camden Heide (6-7, 205, SO, from Purdue); C Matas Vokietaitis (7-0, 245, FR, from Florida Atlantic); PF Lassina Traore (6-9, 215, JR, from Xavier); SG Simeon Wilcher (6-4, 180, SO, from St. John’s)

TEXAS A&M

Goners: George Turkson (6-7, 220, JR, to Maryland); SG Andre Mills (6-4, 200, FR, to Maryland); C Pharrel Payne (6-9, 230, to Maryland); SF Solomon Washington (6-7, 225, JR); PF Janus Ratowski (6-11, 225, FR); SF Jaelen Lee (6-6, 195, S0); SF Rob Dockery (6-6, 215, FR)

Newbies: SF Zach Clemence (6-10, 225, RFR, from Kansas); PG Jacari Lane (6-0, 178, JR, from North Alabama); SF McKenzie Mgbako (6-8, 217, SO, from Indiana); PG Josh Holloway (6-2, 160, SO, from Samford); SG Duke Miles (6-2, 175, SR, from Oklahoma); SG Marcus Hill (6-4, 185, SO, from North Carolina State); PF Federiko Federiko (6-11, 220, JR, from Texas Tech); SG Rylan Griffin (6-5, 180, JR, from Kansas)

VANDERBILT 

Goners: PF Jaylen Carey (to Tennessee); PG Jason Edwards (6-1, 175, JR, to Providence); PG Jordan Williams (6-2, 215, JR); SF Alex Hemenway (6-4, 190, SR, to Evansville); PF Jaqualon Roberts (6-8, 230, SO, to Davidson); PG Karris Bilal (6-2, 190, FR, to Louisiana); PF Kijani Wright (6-9, 200, FR); PG MJ Collins (6-4, 190, JR, to Utah State)

Newbies: PG Frankie Collins (6-1, 185, JR, from TCU); C Mason Nicholson (6-10, 280, JR, from Jacksonville State); PF Jalen Washington (6-10, 225, JR, from North Carolina); Mike James (6-6, 195, RSO, from North Carolina State); SF AK Okereke (6-7, 220, SO, from Cornell); SF Tyler Harris (6-8, 190, SO, from Washington)