Nov 7, 2024; Gainesville, Florida, USA; Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden looks on against the Jacksonville Dolphins during the second half at Exactech Arena at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Pendleton-Imagn Images Florida coach Todd Golden will run the squad in Monday night’s home game against Grambling State despite being under investigation by the school for sexual harassment, stalking and other misconduct.
The school told media outlets on Sunday that there has been no change in Golden’s employment status.
“Todd Golden’s status as UF men’s basketball coach has not changed. He will be coaching the game Monday night,” a school spokesman told ESPN.
Golden released a statement Saturday that acknowledged the investigation and said he has been in touch with attorney Ken Turkel and considering filing a defamation suit.
“For the last month, I have actively participated in and respected the confidentiality of an ongoing school inquiry,” Golden wrote on social media. “I have recently engaged (attorney) Ken Turkel to advise me on my ability to bring defamation claims while this confidential investigation is ongoing. My family and I appreciate the support we have received and remain confident the university will continue its efforts to finish its review promptly.”
The Alligator, a Florida student publication, cited Title IX documents filed on Sept. 27 that said Golden has been accused of potential violations of the school’s Gender Equity Policy. They include acts of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and the stalking of Florida students over the past year.
Per the report, Golden sent “photos and videos of his genitalia while traveling for UF,” used social media to make sexual advances and request sexual favors, and stalked women. He is alleged to have taken photos of women, then send the pictures to them, and also of making visits to places where he knew he could find those same women.
The Alligator interviewed two women who said they had complained about Golden, and they corroborated the Title IX documents.
They said Golden had followed, then unfollowed, numerous women on social media to avoid suspicion, and one of them said his reach to women was vast. He told many women they were “his drug” or “his good luck charm” before games, she said.
“He just had this manipulation tactic over everyone,” the woman told The Alligator. “And he sent us all the same (messages). It was copy-paste to every girl.”
Golden, 39, was hired March 18, 2022, as the 20th head coach in Gators history. He came from San Francisco, where he led the Dons to a 57-36 record over three seasons, including a pair of 20-win seasons and their first NCAA Tournament bid in more than two decades.
Last season, in his second campaign with the Gators, Golden led the team to 24 wins, a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and the SEC tournament championship game for the first time since 2014.
After the season, Golden signed an extension that runs through the 2029-30 season.
The No. 21 Gators are 2-0 on the season.
Golden is married and the father of a young son and daughter.
–Field Level Media
