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GATORS

Florida Baseball Coach McMahon Fired

By ANDY STAPLES

Published: Jun 7, 2007

GAINESVILLE — University of Florida baseball coach Pat McMahon was fired Wednesday, only two years removed from leading the Gators to the NCAA championship game.

Gators athletic director Jeremy Foley said he didn't believe McMahon could make Florida a consistent NCAA Tournament team. McMahon led Florida to the tourney his first four seasons, but the Gators didn't make a regional in each of the past two.

Foley blamed himself for the fact that the program has lacked consistency in his 15 years as athletic director.

"If you ask me what I want for Gator baseball, I'd say consistency," Foley said. "I'd say to be the NCAA Tournament every year. To say we're in the top 64 in the country, I don't think that's unreasonable at the University of Florida."

Despite having one of the nation's best hitters in first baseman Matt LaPorta (.402 batting average, 20 home runs, .582 on-base percentage), the Gators lost games they should have won this past season. They finished 29-30 and tied for third in the Southeastern Conference eastern division, but they lost games this season to North Florida, Jacksonville, Stetson and UCF.

In a statement, McMahon, who compiled a 231-143-1 record at Florida, said he was “extremely disappointed.”

"I know in my heart," McMahon said, "that I have given every fiber of my body to run all areas of the program in a first-class manner with the highest principles."

Reporter Andy Staples can be reached at (352) 262-3719 or astaples@tampatrib.com.