Cinderella didn’t wear glass slippers this March — he wore a suit and carried a clipboard. Todd Golden strolled into Gainesville unknown and walked out a legend. At just 39, he led Florida to its first NCAA title in over a decade. He didn’t just coach — he orchestrated chaos, flipped the bracket, and silenced the skeptics. And in the afterglow of victory, even Barack Obama took notice.

“We have the best backcourt in America. The best front court in America,” Golden declared after the championship game. High-headed? Maybe. But after a 36–4 season and a title to show for it, there are not enough arguments that would hold. And this confidence is a result of an unwavering vision that he brought to fruition. “Yeah, I mean, my hope is regardless of what happens in the tournament – obviously we want to make a deep run, but I think it’s pretty clear where we’re headed and that we’re on the right path,” he had said in March, reflecting on his program’s trajectory. So, he does deserve to be a little proud, right?

Back in 2022, Florida handed Golden the whistle and the weight of expectations. He’d just come off a solid run with San Francisco, but the SEC is no mid-major sandbox. Year one? A stumble. Florida went 16–17 and bowed out early in the NIT. Year two? Better, but still not headline-worthy — a first-round NCAA Tournament exit. Then came year three. And like all great Cinderella runs, it was sudden, seismic, and stunning. And as Barack Obama said, “What a comeback! Congrats to Walter Clayton, Jr. and the Florida Gators on their third national title. This was a fun team to watch“.

According to FanDuel Sportsbook:

“Todd Golden in just 3 seasons at Florida:
Year 1: Missed NCAA Tournament
Year 2: First NCAA Tournament Appearance
Year 3: NCAA CHAMPIONS
Coaching masterclass.”

By the numbers, it’s a $70 million turnaround — not just in potential contract value, but in conference prestige. According to Front Office Sports, the SEC sent a record 14 teams to men’s March Madness, won 24 games, and earned a record $70M in units for the conference. And it might have come at the heartbreak of Cougars, but it also came after thirteen years for the SEC.

Golden Shines, Houston Waits: Gators Steal Title in Heartbreaker

A program that’s now been to the Final Four 7 times… and still never touched the crown. This year stung more than the rest, because for the first time in school history, the Cougars weren’t just in the mix… they were in the championship. Up 12 points. Dominating. Destiny seemed finally within reach.

But Florida had other plans. Walter Clayton Jr. didn’t even score until nearly five minutes into the second half. His first field goal came with 7:54 left on the clock, which tied the game at 48. Until then, it looked like Houston was finally ready to break the curse. “That is a brutal way to lose a game,” veteran analyst Ramona Shelburne later said about Houston, and she was right. Because no matter how much the Cougars tried, the Gators refused to fold.

Piece by piece, possession by possession, Florida chipped away at the lead. And once Clayton finally found his rhythm, there was no turning back. He scored 11 points and dished seven assists all in fifteen minutes, powering a late comeback that sealed a 65–63 victory, and earned him the Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player honors.

Houston’s wait goes on. Florida’s just ended in an unforgettable fashion.