Austin Langworthy has returned to UF as a student assistant coach, the school announced on Tuesday.
“We are excited to welcome Austin back to Gator Nation as an integral part of our coaching staff for the 2022 season,” head coach Kevin O’Sullivan said in a statement. “Austin exemplified the qualities we look for at Florida during his four years as a player here, and I have no doubt he will continue to bring value to our program as a student assistant coach while he works on the completion of his degree.”
Langworthy played in 198 games and started in 195 of them from 2017-20, primarily in left field. For his career, he batted .270 with 19 home runs, 106 RBI, 130 runs scored and 20 stolen bases.
The lefty also dabbled into pitching throughout his career, posting a 3.34 ERA across 32 1/3 innings.
He was named to the College World Series All-Tournament Team after helping the Gators win their first national championship as a freshman in 2017. He was also named to the 2019 NCAA Lubbock All-Regional Team.
Langworthy, who’s from nearby Williston, is best remembered for his walk-off home run that deflected off of Auburn right fielder Steven Williams’ glove in the 11th inning of Game 3 of the 2018 Gainesville Super Regional. That swing sent the Gators to Omaha for the fourth consecutive season in what ended up being the final postseason game played at McKethan Stadium.
Because of the NCAA’s decision to award athletes whose seasons were cut short by COVID-19 an additional season of eligibility, Langworthy could’ve played one more season for the Gators, but he chose not to.
Instead, he signed with the Detroit Tigers as an undrafted free agent in 2020 and played in their organization for a short period of time.
Now, Langworthy is back in the UF dugout.