History of Florida Gators in Timeline
The Florida Gators are the athletic teams representing the University of Florida. Known as part of the "Gator Nation," they compete in the NCAA and SEC, consistently ranking among the top collegiate sports programs in the U.S. They have teams in nine men's and twelve women's sports.
1912: Florida Gators Join Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
In 1912, the University of Florida became a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
1921: Florida Gators Leave Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association
In 1921, the University of Florida ceased being a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
1922: Florida Gators Join Southern Conference
In 1922, the University of Florida became a member of the Southern Conference.
1932: Florida Gators Join Southeastern Conference
In 1932, the University of Florida became one of the thirteen charter members who joined to form the new Southeastern Conference.
1933: Florida Gators Join SEC
In 1933, the Florida Gators joined the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in the fall after previously being in the Southern Conference since 1922.
1933: SEC Play Begins
In 1933, the Southeastern Conference (SEC) began play, with the University of Florida as a founding member.
1973: Bernie Moore Trophy Established
In 1973, the SEC All-Sports Trophy began as the Bernie Moore Trophy, recognizing the league's best men's sports program.
1979: Women's Swimming and Diving National Championship
In 1979, the Florida Gators won a national championship in women's swimming and diving which was sponsored by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).
1979: Wrestling Discontinued at UF
In 1979, wrestling was discontinued at the varsity level at the University of Florida.
1982: Women's Gymnastics National Championship
In 1982, the Florida Gators won a national championship in women's gymnastics which was sponsored by the Association for Intercollegiate Athletics for Women (AIAW).
1983: SEC Recognizes Women's and Overall Sports Programs
In 1983, the SEC began recognizing the best women's sports program in the conference, as well as the best overall SEC sports program.
1983: Begin Streak of Top Ten Ranking
Since 1983, the University of Florida has been ranked among the nation's top ten NCAA Division I athletic programs every year.
1985: NIT Invitation
In 1985, Coach Norm Sloan's Florida Gators basketball team was invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
1986: NIT Invitation
In 1986, Coach Norm Sloan's Florida Gators basketball team was invited to the National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
1987: First NCAA Tournament Appearance
In 1987, the Florida Gators made their first appearance in the NCAA basketball tournament, led by guard Vernon Maxwell.
1988: NCAA Tournament Invitation
In 1988, the Florida Gators basketball team received an invitation to the NCAA tournament.
1989: NCAA Tournament Invitation and Sloan's Resignation
In 1989, the Florida Gators received an invitation to the NCAA tournament, but Coach Norm Sloan was forced to resign due to NCAA infractions.
1990: Florida Starts All-Sports Trophy Streak
From 1990–91 through 2004-05, Florida had a record streak of fourteen straight SEC All-Sports Trophies.
1991: NIT Final Four
In 1991, Coach Lon Kruger's Florida Gators reached the NIT final four.
1993: First Final Four Appearance
During the 1993-94 season, Andrew DeClercq and Dametri Hill led the Florida Gators to their first NCAA tournament Final Four.
1993: NACDA Directors' Cup Recognition
Since 1993, the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) has recognized the University of Florida as ranking among the top seven Division I programs in its NACDA Directors' Cup standings every year.
1994: Andy Lopez Takes Over Baseball Program
In 1994, Andy Lopez became the head coach of the Florida Gators baseball program.
1994: New York Times Assumes Responsibility for SEC All-Sports Trophies
In 1994, the New York Times Regional Newspaper Group assumed responsibility for awarding the SEC All-Sports trophies.
1996: Gators Make College World Series Bid
In 1996, Coach Andy Lopez led the Florida Gators to a fifty-win season and a College World Series bid.
1996: Football National Championship
In 1996, the Florida Gators won a national championship in football which was sponsored by the Bowl Alliance.
2000: Lopez Replaced
In 2000, Andy Lopez was replaced as the head coach of the Florida Gators baseball program.
2001: Pat McMahon Becomes Head Coach
In 2001, Pat McMahon became the head coach of the Florida Gators baseball team after coaching at Mississippi State.
2004: Florida Concludes All-Sports Trophy Streak
From 1990–91 through 2004-05, Florida had a record streak of fourteen straight SEC All-Sports Trophies.
2005: College World Series Run
Following their 2005 College World Series run, the Florida Gators opened the 2006 season ranked number one in the polls.
2005: Georgia Wins SEC All-Sports Trophy
In 2005–06, SEC rival Georgia won the overall All-Sports Trophy, ending Florida's fourteen-year streak.
2005: Gators Reach College World Series Championship
In the 2005 baseball season, the Florida Gators won the SEC title and earned a place in the College World Series, advancing to the championship round.
2006: Season Struggles
In 2006, The Florida Gators struggled to finish 28–28 record (10–20 SEC), and failed to qualify for the NCAA Regionals.
2006: Gators Hold Both Major Men's Championships
In 2006, the Florida Gators became one of only two Division I schools to hold both major men's championships (football and men's basketball) at the same time, winning the BCS football championship.
2006: Men's Basketball National Championship
In 2006, the Florida Gators men's basketball team won the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.
2006: Florida Reclaims SEC All-Sports Trophy
In 2006–07, Florida reclaimed the SEC All-Sports Trophy.
June 13, 2007: Kevin O'Sullivan Hired
On June 13, 2007, Kevin O'Sullivan became the new head baseball coach for the Florida Gators.
2007: McMahon Dismissed
After missing the NCAA Regionals again in 2007, Pat McMahon was dismissed as the head coach.
2007: Men's Basketball and Football Championships
In 2007, the Florida Gators men's basketball team won the NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, and the Florida Gators football team won the 2007 BCS National Championship Game.
2007: Gators Hold Both Major Men's Championships
In 2007, the Florida Gators were one of only two Division I schools to hold both major men's championships (football and men's basketball) at the same time.
2008: Gators Invited to NCAA Regional
In 2008, the Florida Gators finished the regular season with a 30–24 record and received an invitation to the NCAA Regional in Tallahassee.
2008: Football National Championship
In 2008, the Florida Gators won a national championship in football which was sponsored by the Bowl Championship Series (BCS).
January 2009: Gators Win BCS National Championship
In January 2009, the Florida Gators football team won the 2009 BCS National Championship Game, defeating the Oklahoma Sooners 24–14.
2009: Gators Advance to Super Regional
In 2009, the Florida Gators finished the regular season with a 38–18 record, won the NCAA Regional in Gainesville, and advanced to the Super Regional.
2010: SEC Championship and College World Series Berth
In 2010, the Florida Gators finished their SEC regular season play with a 22–8 record, won the program's eleventh SEC championship, and earned a berth in the College World Series.
2010: Gators Win Multiple Championships
In 2010, the Florida Gators men's indoor track and field team won the NCAA championship, and the NCAA women's swimming and diving team also won their national championship.
2011: SEC Championship and College World Series Final
In 2011, the Florida Gators finished their SEC regular season play with a 22–8 record, won the program's twelfth SEC championship, earned a berth in the College World Series and advanced to the final.
2011: Gators Win Multiple Championships
In 2011, the Florida Gators men's indoor track and field team won the NCAA championship, and the NCAA women's tennis team also won their national championship.
2012: Gators Win Multiple Championships
In 2012, the Florida Gators men's indoor track and field team won the NCAA championship, the NCAA men's outdoor track and field championship, and the NCAA women's tennis team also won their national championship.
2012: Return to College World Series
In 2012, the Gators returned to the College World Series.
2013: Gators Win Multiple Championships
In 2013, the Florida Gators men's outdoor track and field team won the NCAA championship, and the NCAA women's gymnastics team also won their national championship.
2014: Gators Win Multiple Championships
In 2014, the Florida Gators won the NCAA women's gymnastics championship and the NCAA softball championship.
2015: Gators Win Multiple Championships
In 2015, the Florida Gators won the NCAA women's gymnastics championship and the NCAA softball championship.
2015: Return to College World Series
In 2015, the Gators returned to the College World Series.
2016: Scott Stricklin Becomes Athletic Director
In 2016, Scott Stricklin became the athletic director for the Florida Gators.
2016: Men's Outdoor Track and Field Championship
In 2016, the Florida Gators won the NCAA men's outdoor track and field championship.
2016: Return to College World Series
In 2016, the Gators returned to the College World Series.
June 2017: Gators Win College World Series
In June 2017, the Florida Gators won their first College World Series championship, sweeping LSU in two games.
2017: Gators Win Baseball National Championship
In 2017, the Florida Gators baseball team won its first-ever national championship, defeating SEC rival LSU Tigers.
2018: Return to College World Series
In 2018, the Gators returned to the College World Series.
2019: Women's Lacrosse Joins American Athletic Conference
In 2019, the Florida Gators women's lacrosse team became a single-sport member of the American Athletic Conference.
2021: Home Games at Condron Ballpark
Since 2021, the Gators baseball team plays its home games at Condron Ballpark at Alfred A. McKethan Field.
2022: Tennessee Sweeps SEC All-Sports Trophies
In the 2022–23 season, Tennessee joined Florida as the only SEC sports programs to earn the overall, men's, and women's all-sports trophies in a single year.
2022: 39th Consecutive Year Among Top 10
The 2022-23 academic year marked the Gators' 39th consecutive year ranked among the nation's top ten best overall collegiate athletic programs.
2022: Florida Gators Lead in SEC Team Championships
Through the end of the 2022–23 school year, the Florida Gators have won 261 Southeastern Conference (SEC) team championships, the most in conference history.
2023: Florida Gators Dominate SEC All-Sports Trophy
As of 2023, Florida has won the SEC All-Sports Trophy 28 times since 1984.
2023: College World Series Rematch
In 2023, the Florida Gators set a new program record with 54 wins, but lost to the LSU Tigers in three games in the CWS championship rematch.
2024: Women's Lacrosse Joins Big 12
In 2024, the Florida Gators women's lacrosse team joined the Big 12 Conference in preparation for the conference's inaugural women's lacrosse season in spring 2025.
2024: College World Series Appearance
In 2024, the Gators returned to the College World Series.
2025: Big 12 Women's Lacrosse Season Begins
In 2025, the Big 12 Conference is set to launch its first women's lacrosse season, with the Florida Gators as a participant.
2025: Women's Lacrosse Joins Big 12
In 2025, the Florida Gators women's lacrosse team will join the Big 12 Conference for the 2025 season.
