NEW YORK — Columbia hired Florida assistant Kevin Hovde as its head coach Monday, according to multiple media reports.

Hovde was on the staff at Columbia for five seasons, two alongside current Florida coach Todd Golden. He joined the program as the director of basketball operations in 2011 and was promoted to assistant coach the following season. In 2015-16, his final season at Columbia, the Lions went 25-10 and won the CollegeInsider.com Tournament.

After his time at Columbia, Hovde went to San Francisco, Richmond and then Florida. He’s been with the Gators since 2022. Florida is a No. 1 seed in the men’s NCAA tournament and the Gators are in the Sweet 16.

Hovde succeeds Jim Engles, who He took over in 2016, a year after Hovde left. This season, Columbia had its best non-conference record ever, starting 8-0 and receiving votes in the poll before finishing 11-2, including a win at Villanova. It was the best start to a season since the 1969-70 team.

The Lions struggled to a 1-13 mark in the Ivy League because of injuries.

Hovde becomes the second Florida assistant to land a head coaching job after John Andrzejek was hired by Campbell last week.

Hovde met his wife Jackie while at Columbia. She graduated from the school in 2009 and was a two-sport letter winner in field hockey and basketball.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.