Tom Slater - Baseball Coach

Tom Slater

Title:
Associate Head Coach
Email:
baseballmail@gators.ufl.edu
Phone:
4457

FLORIDA

Tom Slater was announced as Associate Head Coach for the UF Baseball program on Oct. 31, 2025 and completed his first season with the Gators during the 2026 campaign. The 2027 season marks his second in Orange & Blue.
Overseeing the hitting and infield defense operations for Florida in 2026, Slater helped the Gators to a 41-21 record, 18-12 mark in SEC play and a berth to the program's nation-leading, 18th-consecutive NCAA Tournament.
Under Slater's watch, the Gators led the SEC and ranked 15th nationally with 35 sacrifice flies. Florida also ranked 16th nationally in home runs (106), 33rd in runs scored (459), 34th in slugging percentage (.495), 48th in hits (583) and 57th in walks (287).
Slater's UF offense helped Florida win 12 of its final 16 games while experiencing an offensive resurgence in that span. Florida launched 48 home runs for an average of 3.0 per game over the final 16 contests, setting program records with seven homers in an NCAA Tournament game and five in a single inning (eighth) vs. Miami on May 30. As a result, the Gators finished with the sixth-highest home run total in team history (106).
Slater was instrumental in shortstop Brendan Lawson taking a major sophomore jump. Homering in eight of the last 12 games of the season, Lawson slugged .699 with a team-high 19 home runs, a .312 batting average and .511 on-base percentage – good for sixth-best in program history. The Toronto, Ontario native is projected as a top-five pick in the 2027 MLB Draft after totaling 32 extra-base hits, two triples, 11 doubles, 58 runs, 48 RBI, 53 walks, 14 steals and 24 hit-by-pitches – the latter ranking second all-time in a single season at Florida.
Guided by Slater, outfielder Blake Cyr produced a career year in his senior campaign, setting highs in batting average (.316), hits (68), doubles (15) and runs (53) while swatting 14 homers. Posting a .398 on-base percentage and slugging .591, Cyr led the Gators with seven three-hit games and 17 multi-RBI efforts while sitting second in multi-hit contests (21).
In 30 SEC contests, corner infielder Ethan Surowiec led the squad in batting with a .339/.414/.556 slash line as the only Gator to hit over .300. Seven of his 12 homers came in league play on top of six doubles, 30 RBI and 28 runs. As the lone Gator to play in and start all 62 games, Surowiec paced Florida in hits (78), batting average (.317), RBI (63), total bases (130) and at bats (246) while ranking second in multi-hit contests (21) and multi-RBI efforts (16).

COACHING CAREER

Tom Slater arrived at Florida with nearly 35 years of combined coaching experience in the collegiate and professional ranks, featuring 17 seasons in college baseball alone (Head Coach, Auburn, 2005–08; Assistant Coach, Florida, 2004; Head Coach, VMI, 2001–03; Assistant Coach, Auburn, 1995–2000). Spending the past 17-plus years in professional baseball, Slater’s impressive resume features time with the New York Yankees (2009-17), New York Mets (2018-21), Miami Marlins (2022-24) and Philadelphia Phillies (2025) organizations.
Producing more than 110 MLB draftees across his 17 years as a college coach alone, Slater has coached up 13 first-round draft selections and 47 players chosen within the top-10 rounds.
Slater most recently served as the hitting coach of the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils in 2025. In his lone season in Reading, Slater coached infielder/outfielder Felix Reyes to the 2025 Eastern League MVP Award in addition to the EL batting title (.335). Reyes finished the season hitting 29 points higher than any other hitter while pacing the EL in slugging percentage (.572), OPS (.937), doubles (34), extra-base hits (53) and total bases (210). Three Fightin Phils were named EL All-Stars in Reyes, shortstop Aidan Miller and outfielder Hendry Mendez as Reading finished the season ranking inside the top-four of the EL in nearly every offensive statistic: second in total bases (1,699), second in doubles (245), third in home runs (118), third in batting (.239), third in slugging (.385), third in OPS (.709), fourth in runs (602), fourth in OBP (.324) and fourth in hits (1,058).
From 2022-24, Slater held the position of senior advisor/Minor League hitting coordinator for the Miami Marlins. Highlighted by the organization’s first trip to the MLB Playoffs in a full season since 2003, Slater’s guidance helped 21 Marlins Minor League position players make their MLB debuts over the past four seasons (2022-25).
Spent four years as the New York Mets assistant hitting coach from 2017-21 after being named to the position on November 15, 2017. Under his tutelage, Gator Great Pete Alonso set the Mets single-season home run record in 2019 – the most by a rookie in MLB history. The Mets broke the single-season, team home run record that very same year with 18 more long balls (242) than any other season in team history. During the 2020 campaign, Slater’s offense led the MLB in hitting (.272) and WRC+ (123) while ranking second in OBP (.348), third in OPS (.807), third in hits (551), fourth in slugging (.459) and fifth in doubles (106).
Prior to joining the Mets, Slater spent nine seasons as a coach in the Yankees' organization from 2009-2017.
Served as the hitting coach for the Trenton Thunder (AA) of the Eastern League in the New York Yankees system in 2017. The team was crowned Eastern League Eastern Division champions with the EL's top record (92-48) and ranked second in the league in average (.264), runs scored (659) and on-base percentage (.339).
In his first stint as Trenton's hitting coach in 2012, the Thunder led the league with a 423 slugging percentage and a club-record 162 home runs on their way to becoming Eastern League Eastern Division champions.
Also was a hitting coach with Tampa (A) of the Florida State League in 2015 and 2016. The 2016 team owned a .260 average on the way to a division title and the FSL's best record (77-58).
Served as the Yankees' roving minor league hitting instructor from 2013-2014.
Managed the Staten Island Yankees to a New York-Penn League Championship in 2011.
Was the manager of the GCL Yankees (R) in 2009 and 2010, winning the division title in 2009.
Prior to joining the Yankees, he was a collegiate baseball coach for 17 years with stays at Auburn University (1995-2000 and 2005-2008), the Virginia Military Institute (2001-2003) and the University of Florida (2004).
Served as the hitting coach and third base coach for the 2006 USA Baseball National team that captured gold at the World Championships in Cuba.
Was the head coach at VMI from 2001-2003 and at Auburn from 2005-2008. In 2003, his final year at the Virginia Military Institute, Slater was named the Southern Conference Coach of the Year as the club collected a school-record for wins (24) and posted its first winning record in league play in 14 seasons.
During his four seasons leading Auburn, Slater guided the Tigers to a 115–113 overall record. Auburn qualified for the 2005 NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Tallahassee Regional Finals. Twenty-one players were selected in the MLB Draft during his tenure, highlighted by 2007 first-round pick and eventual 2015 American League MVP Josh Donaldson.
During his college tenure, Slater was a part of staffs that advanced to eight NCAA Regional appearances, four regional championships (1997, 1999, 2004, 2005), two Super Regional berths (1999 and 2004) and one appearance in the College World Series (1997).
While at Florida in 2004, Slater coached third base and oversaw the Gators' offense, which ranked second in the SEC in runs, second in batting average, and third in home runs. That season, the Gators finished 43–22 and reached the NCAA Super Regional.
From 1995–2000, Slater was an assistant coach at Auburn, helping the Tigers to four of their best win totals in program history, including a 50-win season in 1997 and a trip to the College World Series. Over six seasons on Hal Baird's staff, Auburn compiled a 265–111 record (.705).
Slater began his coaching career in 1991 as an assistant at St. Christopher's School in Richmond. He later held assistant positions at Marshall (1992) and VMI (1993–94).

BACKGROUND

A 1990 graduate of VMI, Slater was a four-year starter at third base and ended his career ranked in the school's top-five in RBI, total bases, runs scored and doubles.
He helped lead VMI to a Southern Conference Northern Division Championship in 1988.
Tom and his wife, Beth, have two children (Julia and Jack).

COLLEGE COACHING HIGHLIGHTS

Coached over 110 players selected in MLB Draft
2005 NCAA Tournament & Regional Finalist
2003 Southern Conference Coach of the Year
Led VMI to school-record 24 overall and 16 league wins in 2003
Eight NCAA Regional Appearances
Two Super Regional Appearances (1999, 2004)
1997 College World Series Appearance
1993 Southern Conference Tournament Runner-Up

THE TOM SLATER FILE

Birthdate: April 6, 1968
Hometown: Richmond, Va.
Education: Virginia Military Institute (1990)
Playing Career: Virginia Military Institute (1987-1990)
Coaching Career:
Assistant Coach, St. Christopher's School, 1991
Assistant Coach, Marshall, 1992
Assistant Coach, VMI, 1993-1994
Assistant Coach, Auburn, 1995-2000
Head Coach, VMI, 2001-2003
Assistant Coach, Florida, 2004
Head Coach, Auburn, 2005-08
Manager, Gulf Coast League Yankees, 2009-10
Manager, Staten Island Yankees, 2011
Hitting Coach, Trenton Thunder, 2012
Roving Hitting Instructor, New York Yankees, 2013-14
Hitting Coach, Tampa Yankees, 2015-16
Hitting Coach, Trenton Thunder, 2017
Assistant Hitting Coach, New York Mets, 2018-21
Sr. Advisor/MiLB Hitting Coordinator, Miami Marlins, 2022-24
Player Development, Philadelphia Phillies, 2024-25
Hitting Coach, Reading Phillies, 2025
Associate Head Coach, Florida, 2025-pres.