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Newsstand: University of Florida Board of Governors blocks Santa Ono's appointment as next president

clayton-sayfieby:Clayton Sayfie•06/04/25•

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Tweets Of The Day

University of Michigan president Santa J. Ono stepped down from his position last month, announcing he was the sole finalist for the same job at the University of Florida. Ono’s appointment as the president was blocked by the UF Board of Governors, the move denied by a tally of 10 to 6.

More details from On3’s Thomas Goldkamp:

According to the Miami Herald’s Garrett Shanley, the Board of Governors voted 10-6 against Ono as the next Florida president. Florida’s search for a new university president, which had honed in solely on Ono, will now have to resume.

Santa Ono had been voted on unanimously for appointment at Florida by the University of Florida Board of Trustees. That vote happened one week ago.

The Michigan administrator had been identified as the sole finalist in Florida’s process by the Presidential Search Advisory Committee. His appointment, though, was clearly not a foregone conclusion.

Fineout provided some additional context on the decision Tuesday, which came amid a contentious backdrop. Among those who voted no were education commissioner Manny Diaz, as well as former House speakers Paul Renner and Jose Oliva.

Others who supported Santa Ono’s appointment as Florida president were University of Florida Board of Trustees chair Mori Hosseini, a developer and mega-donor. According to Fineout, Hosseini and the other backers of Ono “viewed the luring of the UM president to UF as a sign of the school’s rising prominence.”

Florida’s presidential opening came about after Ben Sasse stepped down from the post in July 2024, citing his wife’s health. His tenure lasted less than two years.

Las Vegas (Nev.) Columbus four-star small forward Jaxon Richardson is hearing from Michigan among the schools in the most contact with him.

Michigan forward Yaxel Lendeborg — a UAB transfer — releases a statement through the Champions Circle collective for helping him “make this opportunity possible.”

A look at some of the NFL defensive linemen that Michigan assistant coach Lou Esposito has coached.

Quote Of The Day

“We’ll just simply use him as a weapon, as a queen on the chess board, like Derik Queen at Maryland, like Danny Wolf — guys that can create and make plays.”

— Michigan head coach Dusty May on Lendeborg (via the ‘Defend The Block’ podcast with host Brian Boesch)

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• Ethan McDowell, The Wolverine: Inside No. 1 CB Davon Benjamin’s Michigan official visit
• EJ Holland, The Wolverine: Three final takeaways from Michigan’s first official visit weekend: Flip targets, reschedules, more
• Clayton Sayfie, The Wolverine: Dusty May on Michigan newcomers Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara: ‘We’re gonna lean on both of those guys to play big roles’
• Anthony Broome, The Wolverine: Michigan linebacker pecking order: Summer thoughts on 8 LBs

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