The Golden State Warriors failed to secure a spot in the 2026 NBA Playoffs, marking what could be Steve Kerr‘s final season leading the Bay Area. As a Plan B, the franchise reportedly has its sights on Todd Golden of the Florida Gators as a potential replacement, though hiring him would be no easy task.
While Kerr’s departure is not yet confirmed, the franchise is aware that the possibility is real. Draymond Green even addressed Kerr’s future on The Draymond Green Show, noting that, in his view, the coach will not remain in the Bay Area.
According to Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo Sports, it is by no means guaranteed that Golden would leave Florida for the Warriors given the team’s recent struggles. Five seasons have passed since the Warriors were last crowned NBA champions; since then, they have failed to advance past the Conference Semifinals and have missed the playoffs entirely on two occasions.
Furthermore, with aging stars and the lack of a youth core to build around, O’Connor points out that Golden State is no longer in a position to simply get whoever they want. Consequently, Golden could easily choose to remain in the NCAA ranks.
Draymond Green #23 of the Golden State Warriors reacts alongside head coach Steve Kerr. (Getty Images)
Golden has a connection with the Bay Area
Despite his success in Gainesville over the last four seasons, Todd Golden is no stranger to the San Francisco basketball scene. His connection to the region dates back to his tenure as an assistant coach at the University of San Francisco (USF) starting in 2016, followed by a highly successful three-year stint as the Dons’ head coach from 2019 to 2022.
According to O’Connor, the Warriors’ interest is far from a recent development. “League sources say they’ve long admired his coaching talent ever since he was an assistant coach at the University of San Francisco,” O’Connor reported, suggesting the Golden State front office has been monitoring his data-driven approach for years.
A proven track record of success
Golden’s track record is a testament to the consistency he has brought to the college ranks. He currently boasts an impressive 160–77 career record, highlighted by a historic National Championship run in 2025. This achievement made him only the third coach in Florida Gators history to lead the program to a national title, joining the likes of Billy Donovan.
Building on that success, Golden led Florida to an SEC regular-season title in 2026 with a dominant 16-2 conference record. His leadership didn’t go unnoticed, as he was also honored as the 2026 SEC Coach of the Year, further cementing his status as one of the elite tactical minds in the game today.
