Roland Thornqvist resigns after 23 seasons leading Florida Gators women’s tennis program

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Image Credit: UAA

One of the greatest and most successful coaches in the history of the Florida Gators athletic program has decided to hang up his whistle. Following 23 seasons leading the women’s tennis program to immense heights, Roland Thornqvist has chosen to resign from his position.

Thornqvist, 54, was tasked with continuing the sustained success of a program that won three national championships under his predecessor, Andy Brandi, who originally launched the team in 1985. Thornqvist lived up to the difficult charge by leading the Gators to a national title in his second season and four crowns overall during his tenure (2003, 2011-12, 2017) .

The 2011 ITA National Coach of the Year and a five-time SEC Coach of the Year, Thornqvist also oversaw 11 SEC regular-season championships (2002-04, 2006-08, 2010-13, 2015-16), 10 SEC Tournament championships (2002-06, 2010-13, 2016) and nine SEC Player of the Year honors handed out to six of his stars.

However, Florida has fallen off since its last national title. The Gators have only advanced past the second round of the NCAA Tournament once in the last four full seasons, and their dominance both nationally and within the SEC has taken a significant dive given how relevant the program had been competing for titles over the three decades prior.

“I just think it’s time,” said Thornqvist, who chose to resign during the fall schedule but three months before the 2025 season is set to begin. “It’s been a wonderful 23 years, and I’ve poured my heart and soul into this. Every morning, I get up and try to do the best for the Gators. The way I do the job is hard — I’m on the court a lot — and I think I’ve been a little less effective than I want be the last few years, relying more on my assistants. Like I said, it’s just time.”

Associate head coach Jeremy Bayon, who joined the program last year, will serve in an interim capacity while Florida begins a search for a replacement that will apparently be hired by athletic director Scott Stricklin, whose head coaching hires have largely not worked out for the Gators program.

“The University of Florida is incredibly grateful to Roland, who has had a remarkable tenure in Gainesville, winning national and SEC championships while representing the Gators with excellence,” Stricklin said in a release. “We will always appreciate the lasting impact he’s made on and off the court for the student-athletes and staff he’s led.”

Florida is the second-most successful women’s tennis program in NCAA history with its seven national championships trialing only Stanford (20). Neither team has even played for a national title since 2019. The Gators are a top-two job in the profession at the collegiate level, and they should have their pick of the best coaches in the game.