Long-time Florida women’s tennis head coach [autotag]Roland Thornqvist[/autotag] announced his retirement from the Gators’ program on Monday.
Associate head coach Jeremy Bayon, who joined the staff in January 2023, will assume the interim head coach role effective immediately and the school will conduct a national search for its permanent replacement.
“I just think it’s time,” Thornqvist offered after the announcement. “It’s been a wonderful 23 years and I’ve poured my heart and soul into this. Every morning, I get up and try to do the best for the Gators. The way I do the job is hard – I’m on the court a lot – and I think I’ve been a little less effective than I want be the last few years, relying more on my assistants. Like I said, it’s just time.”
The feeling is mutual from the school side as well.
“The University of Florida is incredibly grateful to Roland, who has had a remarkable tenure in Gainesville, winning national and SEC championships while representing the Gators with excellence,” said UF athletic director Scott Stricklin. “We will always appreciate the lasting impact he’s made on and off the court for the student-athletes and staff he’s led.”
Thornqvist, 54, is not riding off into the retirement sunset just yet. The Stockholm, Sweden, native has not ruled out another coaching gig but is keeping his options wide open. However, his allegiance remains to the Orange and Blue.
“Am I going to be the women’s coach somewhere else and competing against the Gators? That’s not in my plans,” he said.
The former skipper explained why his ties to Florida are so strong after two-plus decades in Gainesville.
“One thing I always tell people when they ask what it’s like to be a Gator, it’s the people and the organization,” he said. “The periphery of our program has always had the best medical staff, trainers, academic support, always had tremendous people surrounding our program to allow our athletes to succeed and allow them to be great when the bell rings. I’m just so grateful.”
And that’s the thing about the University of Florida — once you are part of the brother/sisterhood, you bleed orange and blue for life.
“I’ll always be a Gator.”
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