Following-up on something that I mentioned in yesterday’s DAILY DIRT II. Richmond assistant Kevin Hovde has now officially been named as an assistant at Florida. Here’s the full release:
Florida has hired Kevin Hovde as an assistant coach in men’s basketball, head coach Todd Golden announced on Tuesday. Hovde comes to Florida after most recently helping Richmond to the second round of the NCAA Tournament following an Atlantic 10 Tournament championship. Hovde has worked seven seasons alongside Golden, including two as associate head coach under Golden at San Francisco.
“Kevin is extremely sharp and has a great understanding of what we want to do, not only from a basketball standpoint but in the big picture of how we want this program to run,” Golden said. “He has one of the best offensive minds we have in the college game. We’ve obviously had the opportunity to work alongside each other for several years at multiple stops, and I’m really glad we have the chance to add another chapter to our collaboration here at Florida.”
“I couldn’t be more excited to join Florida’s elite men’s basketball program and become a part of the University of Florida and Gator Nation,” Hovde said. “It was going to take a special opportunity for me to leave my alma mater, and this is that opportunity. I am incredibly thankful to be a part of this staff. My family and I are thrilled to be reunited with Coach Golden and his family in Gainesville!”
The Spiders posted 24 wins, including the first-round NCAA Tournament upset of Iowa. The regular season was highlighted by wins vs. St. Bonaventure and Northern Iowa, while the A-10 Tournament run included victories over VCU, Dayton and Davidson. Richmond scoring and rebounding leader Tyler Burton (16.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg) earned second-team all-conference honors, while Jacob Gilyard (13.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg) was named to the third team.
Hovde (pronounced HUV-dee) joined the Richmond staff as an assistant coach in May 2021, returning to his alma mater after five seasons at the University of San Francisco, where he served as the team’s associate coach on Golden’s staff from 2019 to 2021. He helped the Dons to a 22-12 record in 2019-20 and a win over fourth-ranked Virginia on November 27, 2020 – the program’s first win over a top-five opponent in 39 years. From 2016-17 to 2018-19, the Dons posted three consecutive 20-win seasons for the first time in more than 35 years.
Prior to San Francisco, Hovde was on the staff at Columbia for five seasons, two alongside Golden. He joined the program as the director of basketball operations in 2011 and was promoted to assistant coach the following season. In 2015-16, his final season at Columbia, the Lions finished 25-10, setting a school record for wins, and won the postseason CollegeInsider.com Tournament.
Hovde first joined the Spiders in 2006 out of Unionville High in Kennett Square, Pa. as part of Chris Mooney’s first recruiting class at Richmond. He appeared in 99 games over four seasons, scoring 195 total points. As a senior in 2011, Hovde, Mooney, and the Spiders won the Atlantic 10 and advanced to the NCAA’s Sweet 16.
Hovde met his wife Jackie, while at Columbia, and they have a daughter, Lyla.
