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Coastal Carolina Main Baseball Trainer Kevin Schnall called Florida main coach Kevin O’Sullivan during a news conference after Schnall’s team moved on to the super -regional round of the NCAA baseball tournament.
Schnall, whose team beat East Carolina, 1-0, did not like what happened in a reported shift at Chanticleers’ baseball complex.
O’SUllivan allegedly “torn into” Tournament staff over a scheme change, and Schnall replied by calling him a “bully” in front of journalists.
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Florida Gator’s main coach Kevin O’Sullivan before a game against LSU Tigers at Charles Schwab Field Omaha. (Steven Branscombe/USA Today Sports)
“What happened this morning in our field respected another trainer our associated ad who works as hard as someone in our entire program. He respected our field herd, which is the salt of the earth,” Schnall said. “These guys would do something for our program. It’s not ok and this has to be brought up.”
O’SUllivan was allegedly furious that Gators’ Matchup against ECU was moved from noon to 2 p.m. 13 Sunday, which led to his outbreak with Coastal Carolina staff. Video of the shift began to circulate on social media.
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Gators ended up losing weight to Pirates, 11-4, and O’Sullivan initially refused to comment on the confrontation with Coastal Carolina staff and said he “handled it properly, you know, at the end of the game.”
On Monday, O’Sullivan and Gator’s Athletic Director Scott Stricklin released statements about the case.
“Before yesterday’s NCAA tournament games against East Carolina, I let my feelings get the best of me and channeled the energy in a way I shouldn’t have,” said O’Sullivan in his statement. “I will sincerely apologize for my actions and behavior towards the entire NCAA -Regional field in Coastal Carolina, East Carolina and Fairfield, NCAA – including Steps Rick French and Mark Scalf – as well as the entire Gator Nation.
Florida Baseball Main coach Kevin O’Sullivan looks from Dugout under Game 1 of a Double Header against Tennessee May 3rd. (IMagn)
“I did not represent the University of Florida for the appropriate standard yesterday and took full responsibility for it.”
Stricklin added, “This afternoon I met Kevin O’Sullivan and told him that his actions before yesterday’s NCAA tournament game fell well under expectations of how Gators treat people. One of our department’s core values is respect, and Coach O’Sullivan’s unacceptable actions could not demonstrate.
“On behalf of Florida Athletics, I personally want to apologize for anyone who is affected – including NCAA representatives, Coastal Carolina and their staff, East Carolina and their team – as well as to Gator Nation.”
Schnall continued to explain his disappointment.
Coastal Carolina Head coach Kevin Schnall goes on the field during a game against Ohio State in Jacksonville, Fla., February 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
“This is a national master coach who thinks he can come in here and try to bully people around,” Schnall said. “Disappointed. Disappointed someone that many coaches look up to him to act that way.”
With the victory over ECU, Coastal Carolina will face the fourth seed Auburn Tigers in the best-of-three super regional to determine who is going to the College World Series in Omaha.
