Todd Golden talks John Andrzejek's departure, likely replacement
RALEIGH, N.C. — After winning 30 games, capturing the SEC tournament title and earning a 1-seed, Todd Golden’s coaching staff has been poached before March Madness begins in Raleigh. Fortunately for the Gators, John Andrzejek is staying with the team through the NCAA Tournament, and Golden has already identified his likely replacement.
Andrzejek was hired Thursday as the head coach at Campbell University in North Carolina. He has been on Florida’s coaching staff the past two seasons as an assistant coach and played a critical role in the Gators’ defensive improvement this season.
Andrzejek is the first UF assistant under Golden to become a head coach and the second from his coaching tree, along with Chris Gerlufsen, who replaced him at San Francisco.
“I’m incredibly happy for John. My first coaching job was at Columbia University as Director of Basketball Ops in 2010, and John was the student manager for us when I was there. That staff, by the way, I think has five head coaches now, and we were not that good, which makes it even better. John’s an incredible young coach. He’s done a great job this year. I’ve given him a lot more responsibility on the defensive side of the ball, and he’s coordinated it very well,” Golden said of Andrzejek’s impact.
“Obviously our players deserve most of the credit for the jump we’ve made, but I think his organization and his leadership on that side have held us more accountable that way. For me, I’m incredibly proud. I know my mentor Kyle Smith is incredibly proud that people are appreciating what, for lack of a better term, our tree has been able to do in college. When you see a guy like John get an opportunity at a great place like Campbell to come in and take over the job and see what he’s able to do with his imprint on the program, he knows he has my full support. Myself and Kyle will be there for him whatever he needs.”
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Under Andrzejek’s direction, Florida’s defensive efficiency improved from 94th last season to No. 9 this season. UF also ranks sixth nationally in effective field goal percentage, eighth in 3-point field goal percentage and 15th in 2-point field goal percentage.
When Gators Online asked Golden about Andrzejek on Thursday, he identified Jonathan Safir as his likely replacement. Safir has been director of basketball strategy and analytics for the past three seasons under Golden and worked with him at San Franciso and Columbia.
“You want your coaches to be able to get opportunities like that. Just like you want your players to grow and become NBA players, you want your staff to grow and become head coaches. It’s going to be really difficult losing him, but at the same time, when you’re able to have coaches in your program move on to head jobs, there’s a lot of really talented people that want to come work for you also,” Golden said.
“We’ll have to look around and see who’s the right fit. We have really good guys in our program like Jonathan Safir, who I’ll likely promote to an assistant to take John’s spot. We’ll continue to add bright young guys that are all about our program moving forward.”
