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Coastal Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall called Florida coach Kevin O’Sullivan at a press conference after the Schnall team qualified for the super regional NCAA baseball tournament.
Schnall, whose team beat the East Carolina, 1-0, did not like what happened in an altercation reported at the Chanticers baseball complex.
O’Sullivan would have “torn” the tournament staff for a schedule change, and Schnall responded by calling him “intimidator” in front of journalists.
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Florida Gators’ head coach Kevin O’Sullivan, before a match against LSU Tigers in Charles Schwab Field Omaha. (Steven Branscombe / USA TODAY SPORTS)
“What happened this morning on our field, another trainer lacking respect for our associated ad, who works as hard as anyone in our entire program. He lacked respect to our field team, which is the salt of the earth,” said Schnall. “These guys would do anything for our program. It’s not ok, and it must be high.”
O’Sullivan would have been furious that the Gators match against the ECU was moved from noon to 1 p.m. Sunday, which led to its explosion with the staff of the Coastal Carolina. The video of the altercation began to circulate on social networks.
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The Gators ended up losing against the pirates, 11-4, and O’Sullivan first refused to comment on the confrontation with the staff of Coastal Carolina, saying that he “managed it correctly, you know, at the end of the game”.
On Monday, Scott Stricklin, sports director of O’Sullivan and Gators, published statements on the issue.
“Before yesterday’s NCAA tournament match against Eastern Carolina, I let my emotions take over me and I channeled this energy in a way I shouldn’t have,” said O’Sullivan in his statement. “I want to apologize sincerely for my actions and my behaviors in the whole regional field of the NCAA of Coastal Carolina, the East Carolina and Fairfield, the NCAA – including representatives of the Rick Fricnch and Mark Scalf site – as well as the whole Gator nation.
Florida baseball coach Kevin O’Sullivan looks at the canoe in match 1 of a double against Tennessee on May 3. (Imagn)
“I did not represented the University of Florida to the appropriate standard yesterday and I ensured the full responsibility of this.”
Stricklin added: “This afternoon, I met Kevin O’Sullivan and I told him that his actions before yesterday’s NCAA tournament match is not able to expecting the way Gators treat people. One of the fundamental values of our department is respect, and the unacceptable actions of coach O’Sullivan did not manage to demonstrate this.
“On behalf of Florida Athletics, I want to apologize personally to everyone affected – including representatives of NCAA, Coastal Carolina and their staff, East Carolina and their team – as well as Gator Nation.”
Schnall continued by explaining his disappointment.
Coastal Coastal Carolina head coach Kevin Schnall entered the field during a match against Ohio State in Jacksonville, Florida, February 22, 2025. (AP photo / Gary McCullough)
“He is a national champion coach who thinks he can come here and try to intimidate people,” said Schnall. “Disappointed. Disappointed someone that many coaches admire, to act in this way.”
With the victory on the ECU, Coastal Carolina will face the Auburn Tigers of the fourth seeded in the greatest region of the best of the three to determine who will go to the College World Series in Omaha.
