Cinderella didn’t wear glass slippers this March — he wore a suit and carried a clipboard. Todd Golden strolled into Gainesville unknown and walked out a legend. At just 39, he led Florida to its first NCAA title in over a decade. He didn’t just coach — he orchestrated chaos, flipped the bracket, and silenced the skeptics. And in the afterglow of victory, even Barack Obama took notice.
“We have the best backcourt in America. The best front court in America,” Golden declared after the championship game. High-headed? Maybe. But after a 36–4 season and a title to show for it, there are not enough arguments that would hold.
Back in 2022, Florida handed Golden the whistle and the weight of expectations. He’d just come off a solid run with San Francisco, but the SEC is no mid-major sandbox. Year one? A stumble. Florida went 16–17 and bowed out early in the NIT. Year two? Better, but still not headline-worthy — a first-round NCAA Tournament exit.
Then came year three. And like all great Cinderella runs, it was sudden, seismic, and stunning. And as Barack Obama said, “What a comeback! Congrats to Walter Clayton, Jr. and the Florida Gators on their third national title. This was a fun team to watch“.
“Todd Golden in just 3 seasons at Florida:
Year 1: Missed NCAA Tournament
Year 2: First NCAA Tournament Appearance
Year 3: NCAA CHAMPIONS
Coaching masterclass.”
Todd Golden in just 3 seasons at Florida:
Year 1: Missed NCAA Tournament
Year 2: First NCAA Tournament Appearance
Year 3: NCAA CHAMPIONS
Coaching masterclass pic.twitter.com/1vZhc4HxMo
— FanDuel Sportsbook (@FDSportsbook) April 8, 2025
By the numbers, it’s a $70 million turnaround — not just in potential contract value, but in conference prestige. According to Front Office Sports, the SEC sent a record 14 teams to men’s March Madness, won 24 games, and earned a record $70M in units for the conference.
And for the Gators, this was more than just a title — it was their program’s third NCAA championship, and the first in 18 long years. A drought snapped, a legacy reignited.
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