Jonathan Safir has been named director of basketball strategy and analytics for the Florida men’s basketball program, head coach Todd Golden announced on Thursday.
“Jonathan is a rising star in this business,” Golden said. “He was instrumental in the success of our historic season last year at San Francisco. He is well-respected within the profession as an incredibly smart basketball mind and someone who thinks about the game analytically at a high level. It wouldn’t surprise me to see him running an NBA franchise someday. I’ve been fortunate to work with him for the past four years, and he’ll be a great addition to our staff here at Florida.”
“I am ecstatic to continue working alongside Coach Golden at the University of Florida,” Safir said. “I look forward to the chance to work with world-class student-athletes on a daily basis as part of UF’s historic men’s basketball program. I am incredibly thankful and grateful for this opportunity and can’t wait to get to work!”
Safir (pronounced like the gem, “sapphire”) most recently served as an assistant coach on the San Francisco staff that led the Dons to a 24-10 season and the team’s first NCAA Tournament bid since 1998. Three players earned all-West Coast Conference honors during the 2021-22 campaign, and USF reached as high as No. 21 in KenPom ratings.
In his role at San Francisco, Safir oversaw all analytics and strategy for the Dons and played an integral role in scouting, recruiting and player development. In 2020, Safir co-authored a study with Ken Pomeroy titled “The guide to fouling when leading (or tied)” after USF opted to foul in non-traditional scenarios.
He initially joined the USF program in the summer of 2018 as director of basketball operations. Prior to joining the Dons, Safir served as the director of basketball operations at Columbia University in New York City from 2016 to 2018. He joined the Lions’ staff in 2015 as the graduate manager and supported the team during its 2016 CollegeInsider.com Postseason Tournament Championship.
Safir was a four-year letter winner at Vassar College, where he helped lead the Brewers to 19 wins and their first conference championship tournament appearance in school history. During his collegiate offseasons, he served as the head recruiting coordinator for Hoop Group Elite.
Safir earned his master’s in sports management at Columbia after completing his bachelor’s degree in American Studies at Vassar. He originally hails from Buffalo, N.Y.
Safir Hired as Director of Basketball Strategy and Analytics at Florida
