Florida men's basketball coach Todd Golden continues to climb the ranks as one of the best head coaches in the sport.
CBS Sports ranked Golden No. 4 in its annual Top 25 and 1 preseason coaches ranking ahead of the 2026-27 season, jumping three spots from his previous ranking.
Golden only trails UConn's Dan Hurley, Houston's Kelvin Sampson, and St. John's Rick Pitino — the same top three as last season.
Golden's rise comes after another successful season in Gainesville. Although they couldn't repeat as champions, the Gators still proved they were one of the best programs in the country.
Florida captured the 2026 SEC regular-season title with a 16-2 conference record — three games ahead of the next-closest team. It was an accomplishment that even
Golden's national championship team from the previous season did not achieve.
Now entering his fifth season at Florida, Golden has another roster capable of competing for a national championship.
The Gators enter the 2026-27 campaign ranked No. 1 in the preseason AP Top 25 and return several key pieces from last year's squad. The Gators will feature an elite front court of Thomas Haugh, Alex Condon, and Rueben Chinyel and a backcourt led by Boogie Fland and the return of Denzel Aberdeen; and once again face lofty expectations after becoming one of college basketball's most consistent programs over the past two seasons.
For the 41-year-old head coach, this latest recognition further cements his rise as one of the nation's best.
Golden will tip off his fifth season with the program on Nov. 2 against the Miami Hurricanes in Tampa, Florida.
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This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: Where CBS Sports ranks Todd Golden among college basketball coaches
