Florida’s Todd Golden Reshapes Coaching Staff After Championship Win
Fresh off a triumphant national championship run, University of Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden is wasting no time making strategic adjustments to his coaching staff. With eyes firmly set on maintaining the Gators’ elite status heading into the 2025-26 season, Golden has both rewarded in-house excellence and brought in fresh experience from outside the program.
One of the most notable moves is the promotion of Jonathan Safir, who has been elevated to a more prominent assistant coaching role. Safir, who has worked closely with Golden since their time at San Francisco, played a crucial behind-the-scenes role during the Gators’ title-winning campaign. Known for his basketball intellect, player development focus, and sharp scouting acumen, Safir has earned the trust of both the staff and players. His promotion signifies Golden’s commitment to continuity and to nurturing coaching talent from within.
“Jonathan has been instrumental in our success, and this promotion is well deserved,” Golden said in a statement. “His ability to connect with players and see the game analytically has made a huge impact on our program.”
In addition to Safir’s elevation, Golden has added a new face to the staff: Dave Klatsky, the former head coach at NYU. Klatsky brings a unique background, having helped revive NYU’s basketball program with an innovative, team-first approach. Prior to that, Klatsky spent over a decade as an assistant at Colgate, where he helped build the Raiders into a consistent Patriot League contender. His experience in building winning cultures, coupled with his Ivy League playing background from Penn, brings a fresh layer of depth and perspective to Florida’s bench.
“Dave has proven himself as a head coach and has a mind for the game that fits perfectly with what we’re building here,” said Golden. “He’s someone who values relationships, analytics, and culture — the same pillars that define our program.”
Golden’s staff moves follow a season that will be remembered as one of the most remarkable in Florida basketball history. The Gators, led by a mix of veteran leadership and explosive young talent, stormed through the NCAA Tournament with a relentless defensive mentality and a modern, up-tempo offense. Golden’s tactical flexibility and ability to adjust on the fly were widely praised during the tournament, particularly in the Final Four, where Florida edged out blue-blood programs en route to the school’s first national title since 2007.
By reshaping his coaching staff now, Golden is making a clear statement: success is just the beginning, and complacency is not an option. The additions and changes reflect a program not resting on its laurels but looking ahead to sustained excellence.
The 2025-26 season will bring fresh challenges. Several key players are expected to declare for the NBA Draft or graduate, and Florida’s incoming recruiting class, while highly rated, will need development and guidance. The revamped coaching staff, now featuring the continuity of Safir and the strategic addition of Klatsky, is positioned to shepherd this new era of Gator basketball.
Insiders around college basketball have praised Golden’s moves, noting his rare ability to blend loyalty with innovation.
“He’s building something sustainable, not just trying to win one championship,” one rival coach said anonymously. “Promoting a guy like Safir while bringing in someone with Klatsky’s head coaching chops — that’s a power move.”
As the offseason progresses, Florida fans can expect the Gators to remain aggressive in both the transfer portal and recruiting trail, with the revamped staff already hitting the ground running. If this past season was the culmination of a long-term vision, the current shake-up shows that Todd Golden is already working on the next chapter — one that might be even more dominant.
With the pieces in place and momentum on their side, the Gators are poised to remain one of the most dangerous programs in college basketball.