New assistant joins UF staff

Chuck Jeroloman has joined the Florida baseball coaching staff, coach Kevin O’Sullivan announced Wednesday.

Following a seven-year professional playing career, Jeroloman, 36, entered the coaching ranks and has eight seasons of collegiate coaching experience, including six years in the state of Florida, helping lead both Jacksonville and USF to NCAA Regional berths. He is also familiar with the Southeastern Conference, having started 170 games at shortstop for Auburn from 2002-04 before being drafted by the Boston Red Sox.

“We’re really excited to have Chuck join our staff,” O’Sullivan said. “Chuck has experience playing in the SEC and an extensive knowledge of the state of Florida, having coached and recruited in the state for 10 years.”

He replaces longtime assistant Brad Weitzel, who left the program earlier this month.

“I’m incredibly grateful to Coach O’Sullivan and the University of Florida for this opportunity,” Jeroloman said. “Sully and his staff have built one of the most successful programs in the nation and it is an absolute honor to be a part of it. I will work tirelessly at recruiting and developing student-athletes on and off the field. I’m committed to continuing the success of this premier program. Go Gators!”

Jeroloman joins the Gators after spending the past two seasons at South Florida where he served as the lead assistant coach and recruiting coordinator. He primarily worked with the Bulls’ hitters, infielders, outfielders and base running.

In 2019, Jeroloman was key in the development of senior first baseman Joe Genord, who earned First Team All-AAC honors after hitting .333 with 13 home runs and 52 RBI. In total, three players hit over .300 on the season, including redshirt sophomore Jake Sullivan, a converted catcher who became the Bulls’ everyday third baseman and hit .340 over the team’s last 31 games.

In his first season with the Bulls in 2018, USF had its highest finish in AAC history (2nd place) and earned a berth in the NCAA tournament. The offense led the nation with 2.49 doubles per game and finished second in the entire country with 147 doubles. Five hitters finished the season batting over .300 as USF broke conference offensive records in doubles, slugging percentage (.464), batting average (.296) and total bases (951). Six Bulls earned All-Conference honors, led by third baseman David Villar, who also earned Third Team All-America honors.

In four seasons coaching at Jacksonville University, Jeroloman helped the Dolphins improve their win total each season, culminating in 2017 as JU went 36-23 and won its first regular season A-SUN Conference Championship in 11 years with a 16-5 record in league play.

Jeroloman served as Jacksonville’s recruiting coordinator and primarily worked with the hitters, infielders, outfielders and catchers. In four seasons, he helped guide six position players to All-Conference honors and four freshmen to A-SUN All-Freshmen honors. In 2014, infielder Scott Schaub earned Third Team All-America honors from the NCBWA and finished fifth in the nation with a .407 batting average.

Under Jeroloman, the Dolphins were consistently near the top of the A-SUN in fielding percentage and hitting. In his four years, Jacksonville compiled a .299 batting average in conference play and hit over .300 in two seasons. In the same span, JU had a .975 fielding percentage in league games. In 2014, JU led the league in conference play in fielding percentage (.979). The team broke the school record for single-season fielding percentage in 2016 (.971).

Jeroloman joined the TCU staff under Jim Schlossnagle for the 2012-13 seasons and helped lead the Horned Frogs to the Mountain West title and a Super Regional appearance in 2012. He worked primarily with TCU’s hitters, infielders and catchers. In the second half of the 2012 season, he helped the team surge to a .294 batting average and .488 slugging percentage.

Under his tutelage, TCU finished third nationally in double plays in 2012 with a pair of freshman playing the middle infield positions. In the 2013 regular season, TCU led the Big 12 and ranked in the top 25 nationally in fielding percentage (.976).

Following his playing career, Jeroloman entered the coaching ranks at Palm Beach Central High School (2008-11). In three seasons, every infielder and catcher he coached received a college scholarship.

While at Auburn, Jeroloman was the starting shortstop for three seasons on the Plains and played in 175 games, totaling 12 home runs and 91 RBI for the Tigers. He was selected in the 21st round of the 2004 MLB Draft by the Boston Red Sox and played four seasons in their organization, reaching as high as Triple-A Pawtucket. He also played four seasons of Independent baseball.

Born in Suffern, New York, Jeroloman attended Wellington High School in Wellington, Florida. Jeroloman and his wife, Tara, have three sons, Owen, Chase and Brady. His brother, Brian, was a catcher for the Gators from 2004-06.