J.C. Deacon enters his 12th season leading Florida men’s golf in 2025–26, sustaining one of the program’s most successful modern runs. Under Deacon, the Gators captured the 2023 NCAA team title and SEC championship, then followed with another SEC crown in 2025, the NCAA Bremerton Regional title, and a trip to the national semifinals—earning Deacon Southeast Region Coach of the Year honors for the second time in three seasons. Florida’s 2024–25 postseason featured an 8-under, match-play-clinching performance at nationals and a 28-under regional win, underscoring the team’s depth and resilience.
A Toronto native, Deacon became Florida’s head coach in 2014 after assisting at UNLV, where he also played collegiately. He has steadily raised the standard in Gainesville with multiple multi-win seasons, player development that’s produced All-Americans and SEC honorees, and consistent NCAA Championship appearances. Beyond his collegiate résumé, Deacon remains an active competitor, claiming the 2025 Florida Open—his third title in the event—while continuing to promote the program and the sport publicly. His blend of competitive acumen, recruiting, and culture-building has positioned Florida among the nation’s elite and sustained momentum from the 2023 national championship through another trophy-filled 2024–25 campaign.
