Florida assistant Kevin Hovde is new head men's basketball coach at Columbia

NEW YORK (AP) — Columbia hired Florida assistant Kevin Hovde as its head coach Monday.

Hovde was on staff at Columbia for five seasons, two alongside current Florida coach Todd Golden. He joined the program as the director of basketball operations in 2011 and was promoted to assistant coach the following season. In 2015-16, his final season at Columbia, the Lions went 25-10 and won the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

After his time at Columbia, Hovde went to San Francisco, Richmond and then Florida. He's been with the Gators since 2022. Florida is a No. 1 seed in the men's NCAA Tournament and the Gators are in the Sweet 16.

Hovde is the second Florida assistant in the last week to get another job. John Andrzejek was named Campbell's head coach Thursday. Both will remain with the Gators through the NCAA Tournament.

“We’re in a position, because of our success, that people on our staff are getting opportunities, which for me it’s the best thing you could ever ask for," Golden said Monday. "It’s just like when your players have success and they have the opportunity to go play in the NBA, then other guys want to come play for you because they’re like, ‘Oh, that guy.’ It’s the same thing for coaches.”

The Lions parted ways with former coach Jim Engles earlier this month. He took over in 2016, a year after Hovde left. This season, Columbia had its best nonconference record ever, starting 8-0 and receiving votes in the AP Top 25 before finishing 11-2, including a win at Villanova. It was the best start to a season since the 1969-70 team.

The Lions struggled to a 1-13 mark in the Ivy League because of injuries.

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