Kevin O'Sullivan shares emotions of getting back to Omaha

It’s been awhile since Kevin O’Sullivan and the Florida Gators made it to Omaha for the College World Series.

Back in 2018, Florida made it to the semifinals just a year after winning the national title. But it was a string of four straight seasons in the CWS for O’Sullivan.

Safe to say, getting back was much needed for the program.

“I think there’s a great deal of satisfaction to see the players and the hard work they put in to get us back to this point,” O’Sullivan said. “I think there’s been a lot of chatter about your team has not been out here since 2018, and I think the thing that I take out of it is what people sometimes fail to realize is how hard it is to get here. It is not just a group of good players that are talented, but it’s the players that have to come together, stay healthy, play right at the right time.”

Florida only made Regional play in three of the last four seasons. The 2020 season ended up being canceled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

But the 2023 season was different or a movie, as the kids say. The Gators are 50-15 this season going into a College World Series matchup with Virginia.

“You have to have the right culture to do this thing over and over,” O’Sullivan said. “It’s not easy. I think from my perspective, it’s good to have the program back and have this opportunity, but it’s — you kind of get spoiled.”

That’s where O’Sullivan dove into his “spoiled” analogy. Florida was accustomed to the CWS each season and the last four years were definitely a wakeup call.

“My kids thought that this was vacation every year,” O’Sullivan said. “And there’s a three- or four-year layoff, and you start realizing how difficult it is. I think it’s human nature. Even I can admit it myself. I took it for granted that this was expected every year, and all of a sudden that’s taken away from you for three or four years or whatever, and then you kind of appreciate it a little bit more.”

It’s fair for O’Sullivan to expect it every season. He’s 677-317 overall as a head coach and since 2008, made the College World Series eight times, including this season.

They won it all in 2017 and were runners-up back in 2011. Will 2023 be the latest championship for Florida? O’Sullivan has the team to do it.