Fall Check-In: Florida Gators

Our next Fall Check-in is with the Florida Gators and new Head Coach Jordan Tracey.

To read the prior installments of our Fall Check-in Series click here: Virginia Tech (DI), Florida Atlantic, Chapman, Montana, Washington,  Long Beach, Moorpark, Liberty, Arkansas, Auburn, Oklahoma State.

A big part of the Gators’ identity the last few years has been one of the most explosive midfields in the country.  All three of your top line midfielders have graduated, do you expect the midfield to remain the tip of the spear for your team this season?

 Jordan Tracey: It's always hard to replace players that were such a mainstay in our roster for their entire college careers, in Gerber and Weinberg, players that brought energy to the culture at UF always.  Likewise with a Dylan Hess, someone who's pedigree brought leadership and high caliber consistency.  The midfield still remains a strong unit of focus for our program in our "Next Man Up" cultural pillar.  Those players have risen to the occasion and shown why we are not skipping a beat at the midfield.  The brotherhood in Orange and Blue that these players embody and embrace has catalyzed the roster to not drop standards.  Our biggest push this year is standards of excellence, from the players like Gerber and Weinberg setting the pace, we aim to maintain that standard of play across all positions. 

By my count 16 players from last year’s roster completed their eligibility, obviously that’s a big number and quite the adjustment for the team, how is the team adjusting to that both on the field and from a leadership perspective?

JT: We ended up just as amazed with counting that number numerous times.  By the final count we graduated 19 players across the roster.  A large opportunity to show the MCLA we didn’t just ride those players laurels but in its roots carried on to the returning and incoming players to want to continue that level of play. I would say one of the biggest ways we kept any culture shocks to mere afterthoughts was some of those 19 came back as Grad Assistants; passing on their experience and knowledge from behind the whistle instead of the facemask.  Helping out the staff this year we returned Chase McNeil (2025, Def Midfield), Tanner Sims (Grad, Attack), Dylan Weinberg (2025, Midfield), Ethan Heim (2025, Attack), all in coaching roles to their respective positions.  All have played momentous roles for us in all of our National Campaigns, so they know the expectations to pass on.  Our roster this year has embraced that leadership opportunity quickly, allowing for us to building upon last year instead of rebuilding.  From graduating 19 to bringing in 17 Freshmen, and the coaching adds, I'd say the Gators have already mentally embraced a new season of opportunity to show we are a standard now not a question mark.

You’re taking over as head coach after serving as defensive coordinator the last few seasons, how has that transition gone?

JT: Some great shoes to fill coming after someone like Garrett Hanrahan and his tenure at the helm here, it was a real honor to be chosen to succeed him; being on his staff to invest and imbed into the Gator Culture early has made this transition easier.  Having the Head Coaching experience from the HS level on the shelf to pull from, the transition from Assistant Coach to Head Coach has been smoother.  That is always a big question in leadership changes, "What do you plan to Change?" which came with a smiling answer, Nothing, I would continue to be the same coach as I have been since I arrived in Gainesville.  That was a big connection from the first time Garrett and I spoke, coaching philosophy, being leaders of men through the sport.  I made sure to represent that philosophy with perennial consistency so that no change in title would affect the program.  A testament to the culture itself, that my transition was smooth, they embraced the change as if there was no change.

What are the schedule highlights?  Any big trips or visitors to Gainesville? 

JT: Scheduling this year was part Garrett, part myself and the new executives.  Every year we poll the players to the type of experience they want to chase for the next season.  Losing to BYU again at Nationals leaves some vinegar in the taste, but seeing our program consistently elevated to high finishing polls shows the program where we belong and can play.  So we pursued that again with our 25-26 campaign.  Aside from our divisional games, we are making the trip to Atlanta to take on our conference rivals at Georgia Tech, a great mid-season high level of competition; growing up a GT Yellow Jacket Supporter, playing them has been a great time at home for some trash talk with the old man.  We also have a big trip to Colorado planned to take on some RMLC action.  One of the biggest pieces of advice Garrett gave me in the transition, get your road games on the schedule quick because everyone likes the climate in Florida you'll have more teams wanting to travel here than us travel out.  So we have some Boston competition coming down from BC and Northeastern.  Overall a great schedule turnout with jumping into the scheduling ring in the summer.

Who are some Gators to keep an eye on this spring?  With so much roster turnover surely some new names are poised to break out. 

JT: With 19 going out and 17freshmen coming in there is definitely going to be some potentially unknown names on the sheets this year, but some of those came from highly respected HS programs and made the transition quick.  From returning names like Luka Mellone, Zach Halloran, and Matt Shannon, we refilled the ranks with some great incoming talent in NCAA D2 Transfers in Jacob Angulo and Brian Kubiak, and Tufts Transfer Nash Jarolem adding back some experience on the roster to match the incoming roster.  Always a great problem to have as a coach when so much talent comes in the door year after year.

Thank you to Coach Tracey for taking the time to shed some light on the Gators.

Coaches, if you’re interested in participating in our Fall Check-In series, please email info@mcla.us.