Florida’s Coaches Got Called for Costly Technical Foul in NCAA Title Game vs. Houston

The Florida coaching staff got called for a technical foul early in the second half.

Florida Gators center Rueben Chinyelu (9) and Florida Gators forward Alex Condon (21) reach for a rebound against the Houston Cougars in the second half in the national championship game. / Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images

Early in the second half of the national championship game between Florida and Houston, the officials gave the Florida Gators coaching staff a technical foul for jumping off the bench in reaction to a foul call on Gators guard Will Richard.

The call on the coaching staff came because multiple assistant coaches jumped off the bench and on the floor, stepping into the blue area of the championship game court.

Florida's bench got a tech after this foul on Will Richard

(via @CBSSports) pic.twitter.com/dzQQ0su9id

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) April 8, 2025

"This has been building on the Florida sideline," CBS broadcaster Ian Eagle explained. "... Because the benches are lower based on the elevated floor, we saw a number of people pop off the bench and take a step up."

The call came less than three minutes into the second half and as Houston held a 36-30 lead over Florida. They would extend that lead to double digits before the Gators scored again.

The controversial call drew a mix of reaction from viewers tuning into the game, especially since Florida was called for a number of fouls quickly into the second half.

A technical foul was called on Florida's bench. L.J. Cryer made 1 of 2 free throws.
Houston leads 37-30.
Florida coach Todd Golden yells to refs: "That's bullshit!"

— Joseph Duarte (@Joseph_Duarte) April 8, 2025

Technical on Florida's bench - looks like you had assistants getting up and yelling. Oglesby clearly gave them a warning on the play before so that's a justified T. Assistants don't get to jaw

But I do get some frustration with 5 fouls called already vs 1st half w/ little called

— Isaiah Walker (@walkeri141) April 8, 2025

WHAT! The Florida player completely grabbed Tugler. I don’t care for the tech but the foul was completely warranted by Florida. https://t.co/0cKrOJb3X2

— Jackson Pence (@JacksonLPence) April 8, 2025

Those three fouls on Florida were correctly called. That technical was garbage though.

— Connor Morrissette (@C_Morrissette) April 8, 2025

How are the refs not gonna call anything in the first half and then just try to screw over Florida to start the second half. Lol weird how the same ref calling it was the only ref to give me a technical foul all year long 😂😂

— Parker Fox (@Parkerfox24) April 8, 2025

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