GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Samantha Bohon [pronounced Bō hahn) is the Gators soccer coach, director of athletics Scott Stricklin announced Monday.
 
Bohon comes to Florida after 15 seasons with Embry-Riddle women’s soccer program, leading the Eagles to multiple conference titles. She oversaw the program’s transition from NAIA to NCAA Division II competition, with the Eagles’ advancing to national tournament action in both.
 
A Sunshine State native, Bohon played collegiately at Duke and with U.S. U-21 and Senior National teams.
 
She’s also got Southeastern Conference coaching experience. Bohon spent four seasons as an assistant coach at Tennessee (2001-05) and was on staff for the Lady Vols first two SEC regular-season and tournament (2002, 2003) title teams.
 
Bohon is the Gators third head coach, which begins its 28^th season in the fall of 2022.

Turns out new @GatorsSoccer coach @sambagg has some very old history with one of the greatest #Gators in program history. ⚽️

Welcome, Coach Samantha!https://t.co/Tq7VK7Hhql

— Chris Harry (@GatorsChris) May 16, 2022

They Said

“I want to humbly thank Scott Stricklin, the search committee and the rest of the athletic department for this incredible opportunity to lead Florida’s storied soccer program. It was clear early on of our shared values and goals for the program that will ultimately lead to an unforgettable student-athlete experience. The university and athletic department prioritize developing the student, person and player which will ultimately set our student-athletes up for future success.
 
“I am eternally grateful for the last 15 years spent at Embry-Riddle and believe wholeheartedly that my time as an Eagle prepared me for this next exciting adventure.
 
“The University of Florida offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for student-athletes to receive a top-five academic education, utilize state of the art facilities, and compete in one of the best conferences in the nation all while having unmatched support. I am chomping at the bit to get started! Go Gators!”

• Florida Soccer Head Coach Samantha Bohon

 
“Samantha Bohon‘s unique history has blended playing and coaching experience at all levels of women’s soccer. From her playing career at Duke and with the US National Team, to her work on the administrative side with the NCAA, to coaching in the SEC, NAIA and NCAA Division II, the one constant has been success.
 
“As a native Floridian, and from having coached in the SEC, she understands the history of the Gators’ soccer program. But she also know how to navigate teams through changing environments, as the successful transition Embry-Riddle made from NAIA to NCAA Division II demonstrates.
 
“That background, along with her character and ability to lead, make her an ideal choice to be a Florida Gator!”

• Florida Athletics Director Scott Stricklin

Bohon’s Coaching Career

At Embry-Riddle

Bohon became Embry-Riddle’s second women’s soccer coach in 2007 and immediately needed to add to the roster – not an easy task with ERAU women’s enrollment at 26 percent. That first team started a run of eight consecutive ERAU postseason teams. In her third season, the program shared the 2009 Sun Conference regular-season title and won the tournament for the program’s first conference win since 2003. Bohon received her first of three Sun Conference Coach of the Year honors in 2009.
 
ERAU won the next three Sun Conference tournament titles, advancing to the 2011 NAIA quarterfinal and finished the season ranked No. 4. Bohon was named the 2011 and 2012 NAIA-NSCAA/Mondo East Region Coach of the Year.
 
The 2013 Eagles again reached the NAIA quarterfinals, finishing with a final No. 6 ranking. Bohon was the 2013-14 Sun Conference Coach of Character Award recipient, which is given annually to a head coach who has been outstanding in embracing the five core values of the NAIA Champions of Character initiative (integrity, respect, responsibility, sportsmanship and servant leadership), using methods of teaching character through sport and in community leadership through volunteering or service.
 
In eight seasons of NAIA competition (2007-14), Bohon led ERAU to eight consecutive postseason appearances. The Eagles finished third in The Sun Conference regular season standings in 2007 and 2008, shared the 2009 title and was runner-up 2010-14. The 2009 Sun Conference Tournament title was the first of four consecutive and the team advanced to five consecutive NAIA National Championship quarterfinals (2010-14).
 
In 2014, Embry-Riddle began the three-year process of transitioning from NAIA to NCAA II membership. The Eagles could not compete for team/individual awards or postseason play for the 2015 and 2016 soccer seasons due to the transition.
 
The move meant a new conference and the Eagles made their presence known in the 2019 season. As the Sunshine State Conference’s No. 4 seed, the Eagles registered upset road wins to take the 2019 SSC Tournament crown. Then ERAU posted two more upset wins in the South Regional to advance to the program’s first NCAA II Round of 16.
 
The Eagles swept the 2021 SSC regular-season and tournament titles, earning the right to host South Regional tournament action.
 
In her 14 seasons leading the ERAU program, Bohon coached:

• NAIA National Player of the Year (Andrea Frøshaug – 2014)
• 24 All-Americans
• Four NCAA II All-Region selections
• Sun Conference Player of the Year (Elina Johansson – 2009) / Two Sunshine State Conference Defensive Players of Year
• Four league Newcomers of the Year and Two Freshmen of the Year
• 39 All-Sun Conference first team & 10 second team selections
• Six Sunshine State Conference first-team honors / Six second team selections

Bohon’s teams performed well in the classroom, garnering NAIA Scholar Team honors from 2011-14. The 2016 team claimed the National Soccer Coaches Association of America Team Academic Award after achieving the highest grade point average (3.85) of any soccer team, men or women, at any level – NCAA Division I, II, III and NAIA – in the 2015-16 academic year. Every student-athlete on the ERAU Women’s Soccer roster was named to the 2016 and 2017 Sunshine State Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll. The ERAU women’s soccer program produced 15 NAIA All-America Scholar-Athletes and 21 Academic All-Conference selections, as well as four Sun Conference Champions of Character Award winners. In addition, three Eagles earned five College Sports Information Director Association (CoSIDA) Academic All-America honors.
 
Bohon’s teams give back to their community. In 2014 alone, the women’s soccer team donated close to 380 hours in community service. The Eagles’ were named the Halifax Habitat for Humanity Volunteer Group of the Year and was the runner-up to the United Way/Bright House Civic Group of the Year in 2013.
 

At Tennessee

Bohon was assistant coach at the University of Tennessee for four seasons (2001-05), serving as the Lady Vols’ recruiting coordinator and was responsible for team defense. During her tenure, the Lady Vols won their first two Southeastern Conference titles, made three consecutive NCAA Sweet Sixteen appearances, and ranked in the top 12 in the final poll of season (2002: No. 10; 2003: No. 12; No. 4 No. T11).
 
In 2003, Bohon managed a Lady Vol defense that allowed a program-low 18 goals in 24 matches and set school records in shutouts (12) and goals against average (0.73). Her efforts on the recruiting trail brought in a class that was ranked fifth nationally and was tops in the SEC and the Central Region in 2005.
 

As a Player

Bohon was also affiliated with the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Program from 1998 to 2000. She served as a team captain for the Under 21 National Team and was a floating member of the 1999 Women’s World Cup Residency program. She made two international appearances with the full team, netting a goal against Finland and registering an assist against the Ukraine. In addition, she played for the Raleigh Wings in the W-League, which won a national championship in 1999.
 
Bohon played collegiate soccer at Duke University where she was a four-year starter from 1994-97. A three-time All-Atlantic Coast Conference and All-South selection, Bohon was selected as a Freshman All-American and a third-team All-American by Soccer News and Soccer America. She was a tri-captain for the Blue Devils’ nationally ranked squad and also garnered ACC All-Academic honors.
 
Over her four-year career, Bohon tallied 38 points on 16 goals and six assists. As a senior, she worked her way into fifth place on the Duke single-season scoring charts after registering 28 points (13 goals, 2 assists).
 
Bohon continued to contribute to the Blue Devils’ success on the field as a volunteer assistant coach for the 1998 and 1999 seasons. She also interned at the NCAA office in Indianapolis, Ind. where she assisted with the operations of the 2001 NCAA Division I men’s and women’s basketball championships.
 
Bohon is a product of Seabreeze High School in Ormond Beach, Fla., and was inducted into the Sandcrabs’ Hall of Fame in December 2014. Upon graduation from Seabreeze, Bohon went on to earn her bachelor’s degree from Duke with a double major in English and Sociology in 1998. She earned her Master of Arts degree in Sport Administration from the University of North Carolina in 2001.
 
Bohon was also very active in the local community serving on the Campus Outreach-Florida Board, as well as running clinics and youth soccer camps locally. She also coached in Region III of the U.S. Youth Soccer Olympic Development Program.
 
Bohon and her husband Matt have three sons – Barres (11), Walker (9) and Corder (7).
 

Samantha Bohon File

Birthdate

• June 7, 1976 in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.

Collegiate

as Samantha Baggett (Duke: 1994-97)
16 goals – 6 assists – 38 points

• All-Atlantic Coast Conference – 1994 (first), 1996 and 1997 (second)
• NSCAA All-East/All-Atlantic Region – 1995 (third team), 1996 (first), 1997 (second)
• 1994 Freshman All-American / Soccer News All-America Third Team
• 1998 ACC Honor Roll

U.S. National Team

• 1998-99 U.S. U-21 Team Captain
• U.S. National Team Floating Member
• 1999 Women’s World Cup Residency Program
• Two caps – scoring a goal vs Finland and assist vs Ukraine

Coaching Career

• Embry-Riddle Head Coach (2007-21)
• University of Tennessee Assistant Coach (2001-05)
• Duke Volunteer Coach (1998-99)

Coaching Honors

• 2021 Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year
• 2012, 2010 & 2009 Sun Conference Coach of the Year
• 2011 & 2012 NAIA-NSCAA/Mondo East Region Coach of the Year

Education

• Bachelor’s degrees in English Sociology from Duke (1998)
• Master’s in Sports Administration from North Carolina (2001)

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (WCJB) – The journey for a third national title for Florida softball will begin in Gainesville.

On Sunday, the NCAA Tournament selection committee chose the Gators as the No. 14 seed in the 64-team field. The road to Omaha will start at home for the orange and blue, as they will host the Regional round of competition.

The other three teams in their region are Canisius, Georgia Tech, and Wisconsin. Florida will face Canisius first in the double elimination format.

Last season, the Gators were the No. 4 seed and after breezing through the likes of South Florida and South Alabama in Regional action, lost back-to-back games to Southeastern Conference rival, Georgia, at home in the Super Regionals to get knocked out of the tournament.

This year, Florida is one of a dozen teams from the SEC in pursuit of a national championship. It’s the most represented conference by at least five schools, as the PAC-12 has the second most teams in the field with seven.

The postseason action kicks off at Katie Seashole Pressly Stadium on Friday, May 20.

The Florida Gators picked up their third commitment of the 2023 recruiting class on Saturday when an in-state lineman committed to the Gators.

Offensive lineman Knijeah Harris (6-3, 335, Bradenton, FL. IMG) committed to Florida over Miami, Oklahoma, and Texas A&M on Saturday.

Harris visited Gainesville multiple this spring and he likes the emphasis that Billy Napier is putting on the offensive line by having multiple coaches for the position.

The Florida Gators picked up their second commitment on Saturday as a local prospect committed to the staff as the fourth member of the class.

Receiver Creed Whittemore (5-11, 175, Gainesville, FL. Buchholz) committed to Florida over several other schools including UCF and West Virginia.

“I will be committing to the University of Florida, Whittemore tweeted. “And joining the Gator Nation.”

Florida football 2022 schedule

Week 1, Sept. 3 vs. Utah

Week 2, Sept. 10 vs. Kentucky

Week 3, Sept. 17 vs. USF

Week 4, Sept. 24 at Tennessee

Week 5, Oct. 1 vs. Eastern Washington

Week 6, Oct. 8 vs. Missouri

Week 7, Oct. 15 vs. LSU

Week 8, Oct. 22 Idle

Week 9, Oct. 29 vs. Georgia

Week 10, Nov. 5 at Texas A&M

Week 11, Nov. 12 vs. South Carolina

Week 12, Nov. 19 at Vanderbilt

Week 13, Nov. 26 at Florida State

Dec. 3 SEC Championship Game

Florida football schedule analysis

Utah Utes
2021 record: 10-4 (8-1 Pac-12)
All time series: Florida leads, 1-0
Last meeting: Florida won, 38-29 (1977)

Kentucky Wildcats
2021 record: 10-3 (5-3 SEC)
All time series: Florida leads, 53-19
Last meeting: Kentucky won, 20-13 (2021)

USF Bulls
2021 record: 2-10 (1-7 AAC)
All time series: Florida leads, 2-0
Last meeting: Florida won, 42-20 (2021)

Tennessee Volunteers
2021 record: 7-6 (4-4 SEC)
All time series: Florida leads, 31-20
Last meeting: Florida won, 38-14 (2021)

Eastern Washington Eagles
2021 record: 10-3 (6-2 Big Sky)
All time series: Never played

Missouri Tigers
2021 record: 6-7 (3-5 SEC)
All time series: Missouri leads, 6-5
Last meeting: Missouri won, 24-23 (2021)

LSU Tigers
2021 record: 6-7 (3-5 SEC)
All time series: Florida leads, 33-32-3
Last meeting: LSU won, 49-42 (2021)

Georgia Bulldogs
2021 record: 14-1 (8-0 SEC)
All time series: Georgia leads, 53-44-2
Last meeting: Georgia won, 34-7 (2021)

Texas A&M Aggies
2021 record: 8-4 (4-4 SEC)
All time series: Texas A&M leads, 3-2
Last meeting: Texas A&M won, 41-38 (2020)

South Carolina Gamecocks
2021 record: 7-6 (3-5 SEC)
All time series: Florida leads, 29-10-3
Last meeting: South Carolina won, 40-17 (2021)

Vanderbilt Commodores
2021 record: 2-10 (0-8 SEC)
All time series: Florida leads, 43-10-2
Last meeting: Florida won, 42-0 (2021)

Florida State Seminoles
2021 record: 5-7 (4-4 ACC)
All time series: Florida leads, 37-26-2
Last meeting: Florida won, 24-21 (2021)We 

The ninth-ranked Florida softball team (38-13, 13-11 SEC) clinched its weekend series at No. 19 LSU with a 2-1 victory in 9 innings on Sunday in Baton Rouge. It was a historic win as head coach Tim Walton achieved his 1,000th career Division I victory.

Walton’s milestone makes him the second fastest to reach 1,000 NCAA Division I wins behind Arizona’s Mike Candrea. Walton joins volleyball head coach Mary Wise as the only active coaches with 1,000 wins at UF. 

Senior Cheyenne Lindsey’s home run in the top of the ninth sealed UF’s win over the Tigers (32-19, 11-10 SEC).

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – University of Florida women’s basketball head coach Kelly Rae Finley has announced the hiring of assistant coach and recruiting coordinator Cynthia Jordan to her staff.
 
Jordan joins the Gators coaching staff after serving as the Director of Women’s Basketball Operations at South Carolina for the past 10 seasons.
 
“CJ is a star within the women’s basketball community,” Finley said. “She is a connector of people, a competitor with a diligent work ethic and charismatic presence. She is a proven winner who will positively impact our student-athletes and staff daily. We are excited to welcome CJ to Gainesville!”
 
As the director of operations with the Gamecocks, Jordan coordinated all team activities, including all aspects of the team’s travel arrangements. She was responsible for game scheduling, assisting with oversight of student-athlete academic success and served as the program’s liaison with various other areas within the athletics department.
 
“I am thrilled and excited to be joining such a strong program,” Jordan said. “I would like to thank Kelly for including me in her overall vision. Kelly’s passion for the game is palpable and positions her and the program for greatness. I am honored to play a role in the program’s build as a championship contender and am committed to contributing in any way I can. I also look forward to becoming an active member of the greater Gators community.”
 
Prior to serving as the director of operations, Jordan acted as the video coordinator for the Gamecocks from 2008-2011. As the video coordinator, Jordan was responsible for taping games and practices, breaking down film and coordinating the ongoing video needs of the coaching staff. She began her career in collegiate athletics as a graduate assistant at Temple in 2007. As a graduate assistant at Temple, she began working with editing opponent films for the coaching staff while also evaluating high school prospect videos.
 
On the court, Jordan was a four-year letterwinner for Temple women’s basketball under head coach Dawn Staley before playing professionally overseas in Switzerland and Turkey. She earned her bachelor’s degree in business administration and marketing in 2004 and her master’s degree in sports and recreation administration in 2009, both from Temple.
 
What They’re Saying About CJ
 
“One of the greatest moments as a coach is seeing your former players live out their dreams. Today is that day for Cynthia ‘CJ’ Jordan, who has been a key part of our championship success. As a player, CJ was the ultimate point guard, a good teammate and a coachable student-athlete who was not going to be outworked. It’s that same tenacious attitude that will make her a great assistant coach for the Florida Gators. Coaching is about teaching, relationships and passion – CJ has a great understanding of all three, and couple with her knowledge of the game, the student-athletes will benefit greatly from what she will add to the staff.”

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – This year’s Gators Spring Football Special, presented by Sunniland will debut Sunday, May 1 at 6 p.m. ET on Bally Sports Florida. The one-hour show features exclusive content from Florida’s first spring under Head Coach Billy Napier, as well the 2022 Orange and Blue Game.

Hosted by voice of the Gators Mick Hubert and Jeff Cardozo, the show features interviews with Napier, Associate Head Coach / Director of Football Strength and Conditioning Mark Hocke, Assistant Head Coach – Defense / Cornerbacks Coach Corey Raymond, Inside Linebackers Coach Mike Peterson and Senior Director of Player Relations and GatorMade Savannah Bailey.
 
The show will re-air throughout the first week of May. See air dates and times below and check local listings.

• Sunday, May 1 at 6 p.m.

• Monday, May 2 at 7 a.m.

• Thursday, May 5 at 1 p.m.

• Saturday, May 7 at 10 a.m.

• Saturday, May 7 at 6 p.m.

Florida Gators