GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The College of Florida has cleared males’s basketball coach Todd Golden following a four-month Title IX investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking.
The college launched an announcement Monday saying no proof was discovered and it ended its investigation. It comes amid No. 5 Florida’s finest season in a decade, with the Gators profitable 18 of their first 20 video games.
“The University of Florida takes these matters seriously and works deliberately to ensure that due process is upheld for everyone,” college spokesman Steve Orlando mentioned in an announcement. “After a thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews over the past months, the University of Florida has found no evidence that Todd Golden violated Title IX. The Title IX office has closed its investigation.”
Golden beforehand sidestepped possibilities to disclaim the allegations “out of the respect to the process” and threatened authorized motion, presumably in opposition to his accusers, who weren’t publicly named. He additionally just lately ripped proceedings which are purported to be confidential.
“I am just frustrated and disappointed that a Title IX mechanism that is created to protect both sides during a situation like this — that confidentiality and privacy continues to be abused,” Golden mentioned earlier this month after assistant coach Taurean Inexperienced was accused of sexual assault in one other Title IX case.
The criticism in opposition to Golden accused him of sending pictures and movies of his genitalia, making undesirable sexual advances on Instagram and requesting sexual favors. The Impartial Florida Alligator first reported the allegations in early November.
Golden’s legal professional, William Shepherd, mentioned the college’s conclusion “proves that the complaint was meritless.”
“Coach Golden and I have respected the process throughout while actively engaging with the university,” Shepherd mentioned in an announcement. “Nevertheless, there have been many who didn’t respect the investigative course of. As a substitute, they sought to focus on Coach Golden and drive their agenda and this investigation for their very own self-interest.
“Some leaked confidential material to the media; falsely posed as a UF lawyer in an effort to intimidate; harassed UF students and parents to try to generate a false narrative; and harassed my client, his family, and his friends.”
Shepherd added that Golden will think about authorized choices within the offseason.
The college’s College Athletic Affiliation supported Golden all through the investigation and backed his confidentiality remark following the case’s dismissal.
“Throughout this process, Coach Golden has demonstrated tremendous focus and professionalism, and we commend him for that,” the UAA mentioned in an announcement.
Title IX is designed to guard college students from discrimination, together with sexual harassment. Florida started outsourcing its Title IX investigations in 2023 to Grand River Options, a non-public agency based mostly in California.
“The last several months have been a challenge for my family and me while this process dragged on,” Golden mentioned in an announcement posted on X. “We requested for the general public to permit this course of to work by to its conclusion and never rush to judgement based mostly on allegations. The UAA and so many on the College have been tremendously supportive — my household and I are extraordinarily grateful.
“And thank you to our fans for your incredible support for our players and our program. It has made a huge difference.”
The 39-year-old Golden signed a two-year contract extension final March that included a $1 million increase and introduced his annual wage to $4 million. The deal runs by the 2029-30 season. He’s 58-31 in three seasons.
His contract prohibits “romantic, amorous and/or sexual relationships between any coach or other employee of the Association and any student athlete or other person subject to the supervision, control and/or authority of such coach or other employee.”
It additionally says the college can take disciplinary motion if the coach acts in a fashion “that has an ‘adverse effect’ or causes an ‘adverse reflection,’ on the reputation, mission and/or interests” of the athletic division or the college.
The case in opposition to Inexperienced, in the meantime, continues to be ongoing. Inexperienced is accused of kissing an athletic division worker and making an attempt to place his hand down her pants in March 2024, in line with a criticism reviewed by ESPN.
The girl mentioned she didn’t report the alleged incident on the time partially due to Inexperienced’s standing. Inexperienced, who gained NCAA championships as a participant with the Gators in 2006 and 2007, joined the basketball workers in 2022 following knowledgeable basketball profession.
The girl informed ESPN she got here ahead after Title IX investigators engaged on Golden’s case requested to interview her final fall about Golden’s interactions with feminine athletes. She mentioned that inquiry made her understand there could possibly be considerations a couple of sample of conduct inside the program.
