Assistant Coach - 2024 will be 3rd Season at Florida
Kopp enters his third year with the Florida baseball program in 2023-24, having been hired in July 2021.
In Kopp's two campaigns at Florida, the Gators have seen four pitchers drafted in the first three rounds including 2023 first-rounder
Hurston Waldrep. Under Kopp's tutelage in 2023, the Gators set program records in strikeouts (725) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.6). Perhaps most impressively, three UF hurlers earned All-American honors in Waldrep,
Brandon Neely and freshman
Cade Fisher.
Thanks in large part to Kopp, Florida had the only rotation in NCAA Division I to go the entire season without a single starter to miss a start, as the trio of Brandon Sproat, Hurston Waldrep and Jac Caglianone all posted 18 or more times. The three hurlers combined for 377 strikeouts, with Waldrep (156) and Sproat (134) becoming the ninth 100-strikeout duo in program history and setting a UF pitching duo record with 290 strikeouts. Waldrep’s 156 rank second all-time in a season at UF, just one behind Alex Faedo’s team record set in 2017.
During the 2022 season, Kopp guided the transformation of right-handed reliever
Blake Purnell, who became a Freshman All-American by season's end. After lowering his arm slot with the assistance of Kopp, Purnell went from throwing zero innings in 2021 to breaking out with a 3-3 record, four saves, 2.86 ERA and .258 BAA. He pitched in eight more games than the next closest Gator, totaling 50 1/3 innings across 36 appearances. Right-hander
Brandon Neely also earned All-SEC Freshman Team honors under Kopp's watch, posting a 3-3 record, 3.76 ERA, .205 BAA and 74 strikeouts across 69 1/3 innings spanning 21 appearances (10 starts).
Most impressively, starting pitcher Brandon Sproat was tremendous for the Gators down the stretch in 2022, going 5-0 with a 1.59 ERA and .218 batting average against in his last six starts of the season. Sproat filled in valiantly following the season-ending injury to then-ace Hunter Barco, collecting ABCA/Rawlings Southeast All-Region Second Team honors with a 9-4 record, 3.41 ERA, .251 BAA and 82 strikeouts across 89 2/3 innings pitched.
Kopp came to the Gators from Florida Atlantic, where he spent four seasons as the Owls' pitching coach and recruiting coordinator. Across his four years at FAU, the Owls posted a 126-71-1 (.639) record, winning 30-plus games in each of his three-full seasons on staff and winning 40-plus games in both 2018 and 2019.
Within the conference, FAU went 59-30-1 (.661) during Kopp's tenure, claiming the Conference USA Championship in 2019 while reaching the NCAA Tournament two-consecutive years from 2018-19. Kopp also played a significant role in player development while at FAU, as seven Owls pitchers were selected in the MLB Draft from 2018-2021. Additionally, Kopp helped FAU pitchers combine for six separate All-Conference USA selections including closer Zach Schneider, who became the Owls' first-ever repeat All-American.
Prior to FAU, Kopp served as the pitching coach and recruiting coordinator at Florida Southern in 2017. In his lone season on staff, the Moccasins reached the postseason with a 35-17 record while registering the second-longest win streak in program history at 17 games. Kopps' Florida Southern pitching staff ranked first in the nation in strikeout-to-walk ratio.
Kopp spent the 2016 campaign as a student assistant coach with his alma mater, Clemson. The Tigers won the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship in 2016, finishing the regular season ranked No. 7 in the country. Following the conclusion of the college season, Kopp gained further experience as the pitching coach of the Strasburg Express of the Valley Baseball League.
As a player at Clemson, Kopp powered the Tigers to three-consecutive NCAA Super Regional appearances from 2005-07, featuring one ACC Championship and one NCAA College World Series appearance. Across his three-year career, Kopp totaled a 16-8 record and 4.18 ERA over 288.1 innings pitched. In 2007, he worked to a 3.79 ERA across 99.2 frames, earning First Team All-ACC honors.
Following the 2007 season, Kopp was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 71
st overall pick in the second round of the MLB Draft. He went on to be named a Florida State League All-Star in 2009 and later the Texas League Pitcher of the Year for Double-A Springfield in 2010. In 2012, Kopp represented Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.
Kopp wrapped up his professional career in 2014, pitching parts of eight seasons in the Minor Leagues. He accumulated 435.2 innings as a member of the Cardinals and Detroit Tigers organizations with a 4.59 career ERA.
Kopp graduated from Clemson with a degree in sports, recreation & tourism management. He resides in Gainesville with his wife, Jennifer.
THE DAVID KOPP FILE
Birthdate: October 22, 1985
Hometown: Margate, Fla.
High School: Coral Springs HS (Coral Springs, Fla.)
Education: Clemson University, B.S. in Sports, Recreation & Tourism Management, 2007
Coaching Career
Volunteer Assistant Coach, University of Florida, 2021-present
Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Florida Atlantic, 2018-21
Pitching Coach/Recruiting Coordinator, Florida Southern, 2017
Student Assistant Coach, Clemson, 2016
Collegiate Playing Career
Clemson University, 2005-07
Professional Playing Career
St. Louis Cardinals Organization (Drafted in 2nd round in 2007)
Batavia (N.Y.) Muckdogs (Class A Short-Season – New York-Pennsylvania League), 2007
Palm Beach (Fla.) Cardinals (Class A Advanced – Florida State League), 2008-09
Springfield (Mo.) Cardinals (Double A – Texas League), 2009-10, 2011
Memphis (Tenn.) Redbirds (Triple A – Pacific Coast League), 2010-11
Detroit Tigers Organization
Erie (Penn.) Seawolves (Double A –Eastern League), 2012-13
Independent League
Long Island (N.Y.) Ducks (Atlantic League), 2014
