ATHENS -- Georgia baseball coach Scott Stricklin tested positive for COVID-19 and will miss several games, starting with this weekend’s series against Tennessee.

UGA officials said contact tracing has been complete, and no other baseball players or coaches will be subjected to quarantine protocols. Associate head coach Scott Daeley will assume head coaching duties in Stricklin’s absence. Stricklin will not be allowed to coach remotely, per NCAA and SEC rules.

The No. 7-ranked Bulldogs (13-3) open SEC play Friday night with the first of three games against No. 10 Tennessee (15-3). Georgia also is scheduled to play Kennesaw State at home Tuesday and then Texas A&M on the road next weekend.

Stricklin declined comment Friday, but said he may have a statement later.

Georgia baseball’s development follows by a day news that the UGA gymnastics team was having to pull out of the SEC Championships because of the presence of the coronavirus in the program. The cancellation will not, however, impact the GymDogs’ ability to host and participate in the NCAA Athens Regional.

UGA Athletics states that the actions are “consistent with COVID-19 management requirements developed by the SEC’s medical guidance task force and Georgia Public Health’s guidelines.

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Georgia head coach Kirby Smart leaves the football field after Georgia beat Tennessee during overtime in an NCAA football game at Neyland Stadium, Saturday, September 13, 2025, in Knoxville, Tenn. Georgia won 44-41 over Tennessee in overtime.

Credit: HYOSUB SHIN / AJC

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