Georgia head coach Mike White yells to his players on the court during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game against Auburn, Jan. 4, 2023, in Athens, Ga. White is making an impact at Georgia, which is at .500 in the SEC at 4-4 following five consecutive losing seasons in the conference. Three of those SEC wins have come against teams currently tied for last in the league, but White says the ability to win close games gives the Bulldogs a chance to “steal a few” the remainder of the season. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Former Gator Coach Mike White Reflects on his First Year at Georgia

Miguel Molina April 4, 2023 College Basketball, Gators Men's Basketball, NCAA, NCAA Tournament, SEC 2,275 Views

After leading the Gators to four NCAA Tournament appearances and 142 wins during his seven-year tenure, former Florida men’s basketball head coach Mike White parted ways with the Orange and Blue on March 13, 2022, to become the head coach for the University of Georgia.

Although the team lost to LSU 72-67 in the SEC Tournament, White was able to turn the Georgia basketball program around in his first year. The Bulldogs finished this season with a record of 16-16, which is 10 more wins than the 6-26 record that Georgia recorded last season.

First Year with The Bulldogs

After the University of Connecticut cut down the nets Monday night, the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament gives every coach a chance to look back at the season. White reflects on how he was able to lay the foundation for the future of UGA and what is in store for the future for the SEC.

Thoughts on FAU’s Success

Although Georgia did not make the NCAA Tournament, White is ecstatic for his former assistant coach and friend Dusty May.

May is the head men’s basketball coach at Florida Atlantic University and recently led his squad to the Final Four of the 2023 tournament. In fact, this was the first time that FAU had ever won a game in the NCAA Tournament.

White said him and May are like brothers, as they have had a long history with one another. The two coaches started together at Louisiana Tech University, and when White got the head coaching job with the Gators, May followed White to become an assistant coach. In 2018, May signed on as the head coach of FAU and White could not be happier.

With FAU making it to the Final Four, the attention on May was on an all-time high. From interviews to TV spots, the spotlight can be overwhelming for some coaches. But White knows that May is not an ordinary coach.

Next Season

After coming close to reaching the NCAA Tournament, White will look to lead his team next season to Georgia’s first tournament appearance since 2015.

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