Buddy Alexander will retire as Florida’s head golf coach at the end of the season, it was announced Tuesday. The 61-year-old was the second-longest tenured coach in school history.
According to the school’s website, Alexander first contemplated retirement at the end of 2013 but opted for one more year, his 27th, in Gainesville. His retirement will be effective June 30.
Alexander was an eight-time SEC Coach of the Year and he led the team to two national titles (1993, 2001). His former players include Chris DiMarco, Brian Gay, Billy Horschel, Matt Every and Camilo Villegas.
“I just thought it was a good time to do it,” he told the website. “The competitor in me isn’t crazy about the fact this isn’t one of our better teams and you would like to fix the problem, but for me, it’s just time to go. I still have a heck of a lot of energy, but I probably don’t have the patience or the passion that I might have once had. It just felt like before the tournament was the right time.”
In a letter to boosters, Alexander acknowledged that the past three seasons have “not been up to our/my expected standards.”
Florida is ranked 71st in the country, according to Golfstat. With a 57-79-1 head-to-head record – teams must be .500 or better to be postseason-eligible – the Gators need to win this week’s SEC Championship to keep their season alive.
Last year, Florida advanced to the NCAA Championship for the 13th consecutive year, the longest active streak in the nation.