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Todd Golden is college basketball's version of Dabo Swinney
TL;DR
Todd Golden, head coach at Florida, is successfully retaining players despite NBA draft opportunities, similar to Dabo Swinney's approach at Clemson. Veteran Thomas Haugh chose to stay at Florida instead of entering the 2026 NBA draft.
Key points
- Todd Golden is the head coach at Florida.
- Thomas Haugh chose to stay at Florida instead of entering the NBA draft.
- NIL deals are influencing player retention in college sports.
- Dabo Swinney's coaching style is compared to Todd Golden's.
- Older players often slide on NBA draft night.
FloridaClemsonThomas Haugh
As we follow the college sports industry month after month and year after year, we sometimes ask ourselves about a coach: "How does he keep convincing players to stay?" It's true that NIL has increased the incentives for players to stay, something we will discuss here as we go along. Nevertheless, the NBA does offer very substantial money. Todd Golden is making a lot of us ask, "How does he keep convincing players to stay at Florida?" It calls to mind Dabo Swinney at Clemson several years ago.
Thomas Haugh
Thomas Haugh easily could have chosen to go into the 2026 NBA draft, but he chose to stay at Florida. He is a veteran player who knows that in the NBA, older players often slide on draft night. That didn't dissuade him from coming back for another year in Gainesville.
Alex Condon
Condon's size makes him an obvious NBA draft pick. He was going to get picked if he entered. Yet, Todd Golden got him to return to Florida for another year. We reiterate the point one more time: NBA teams generally like to pursue younger prospects, not older ones, so the return of Condon is yet another move that cuts against the grain in terms of maximizing an NBA opportunity. How is Todd Golden doing this?
Boogie Fland
Todd Golden is keeping the band together. In an age when so many players swoop in for one year and then leave, Florida is setting an industry standard alongside Dusty May and Michigan. It's no accident these two teams will be preseason Final Four favorites for 2027.
Florida history
Florida is now in position to get a No. 1 seed at the NCAA Tournament in three straight seasons. If UF achieves that goal, it will be the first time in program history that has happened. Todd Golden is creating a dynastic power.
Dabo Swinney
Yes, the Clemson coach has lost his fastball, but at his peak, what Dabo Swinney did was much like Todd Golden today at Florida. Dabo reached the College Football Playoff six straight seasons at Clemson, winning two national championship games and reaching four national title games. The secret to this success was roster retention.
Q&A
Why did Thomas Haugh decide to stay at Florida instead of entering the NBA draft?
Thomas Haugh chose to stay at Florida because he understands that older players often slide on draft night, making another year in college more appealing.
How does Todd Golden convince players to remain at Florida?
Todd Golden utilizes the increased incentives from NIL deals and fosters a strong team environment to encourage players to stay.
What similarities exist between Todd Golden and Dabo Swinney in college sports?
Both Todd Golden and Dabo Swinney are known for their ability to retain talented players in their programs despite lucrative opportunities in professional leagues.
What impact does NIL have on college basketball player retention?
NIL has significantly increased the financial incentives for college basketball players to stay in school rather than pursue professional opportunities immediately.
