The head coach of one of the hottest teams in university basketball entering the playoff series Todd Golden in Florida was earlier this season Subject of a title IX survey In his behavior after accusations of sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and harassment.
Office of Title IX of Title IX from Florida judged the case In January, after a several -month investigation into allegations, saying that it found “no evidence”, he had violated title IX. However, although the probe did not reveal a taxable offense, it did not completely exempt the 39 -year -old coach.
Rather, its conclusions have eliminated a close scope of the allegations linked to title IX – behavior perpetrated in a university program or activity – which raises the possibility that the Florida coach, whose Gators n ° 4 have aspirations in the national title, could be encountered with a new exam while the spotlights of March Madness are starting to shine.
Here is what we know about the case and the charges taken from the Florida coach.
Chronology
An official complaint with the title IX office at the University of Florida against Golden, potentially by putting Golden in violation of the school equity policy of the school, was filed on September 27, 2024. In the complaint, made public on November 8, 2024 after the school newspaper of the school was published on the conclusions, Golden would have committed sexual harassment, sexual exploitation and harassment.
Golden remained the coach while the Florida title IX office, an independent office of the education system, conducted an investigation into allegations in several months.
On January 27, 2025, Florida announced that after dozens of interviews over several months, he “found no evidence that Todd Golden violated title IX” and closed the investigation.
Sexual misconduct allegations
Several women have brought charges against sexual harassment and sexual harassment, by documents obtained by The independent alligator of Floridathe school newspaper of the school. The complaint against Golden alleys that during a year, he made unwanted sexual advances on Instagram, asked for sexual favors and sent photos and videos of his genitals during a trip with Florida, as well as multiple harassment opportunities.
The number of women who have accused gold of this behavior remains unknown. Of the alligator:
There would have been more than one opportunity in which Golden took photos of women walking or led and sent these photos to the subjects involved. Various hunting incidents also included Golden presenting themselves in the places where he knew that women would be.
At more than one opportunity, Golden hired women on Instagram by loving photos and then waiting to read the DM before not binding photos to avoid suspicion.
Two women spoke with the Golden behavior alligator while choosing to remain anonymous. The first woman – a former student in Florida – claims that Golden has tracked her down in his car and on foot “more than 10 times”. She also accused him of having sent undelical photos of her genitals, including a case where the team was traveling on the road.
From the Alligator reports:
“At first, it starts slowly, like” Oh, Wow. It’s strange. This guy shows us the attention “” said the first woman. “And then it becomes:” Wow, he crosses a line. No, he didn’t think it like that. “Then, it’s:” Wait, he completely crosses this line. “And then it is:” Wow, there is a photo of his CK. “It was a complete grooming process with all of us.”
The second woman, who was also a former student in Florida, says that Golden liked Instagram posts in an apparent attempt to attract their attention before they are not to avoid detection. She also claims that he told her that she was “her drug” or “good luck”.
ESPN reported On January 27, that a copy of a university letter was sent to a complainant in the case determined that there was no evidence to indicate sexual harassment initiated by Golden “in a program or university activity”, which is why the school had to reject the complaint.
The letter also indicated that the university has received an anonymous report from “several potentially impacted people”.
Of ESPN:
Lawyer Karen Truszkowski, who represents a 21 -year -old student who did not attend the University of Florida, said that although the behavior reported is not the definition of title IX, there was “certainly evidence that there was a questionable activity that occurred” while Golden participated in a university event.
What Golden said
Throughout the process – from accusations to an investigation at the end of the probe – Golden maintained its innocence.
In November, he published a statement saying that he participated in the investigation and envisaged defamation complaints but had not commented more, citing laws on confidentiality.
These defamation claims have never materialized.
When the investigation was closed at the end of January, he published a statement thanking the UAA, Florida fans and the university for having been favorable throughout the process.
Golden’s lawyer William Shepherd also published a statement in January after the end of the investigation:
This investigation found no evidence in support of allegations against coach Golden. The conclusion of the university proves that the complaint was without merit. Coach Golden and I have respected the process throughout the process while actively engaging with university. However, many were those who did not comply with the investigation process. Instead, they sought to target coach Golden and conduct their agenda and this investigation for their own interest. Some have disclosed confidential media material; Wrongly possessed as a UF lawyer in order to intimidate; Harlled the students and parents of the UF to try to generate a false story; And harassed my client, his family and his friends. Coach Golden appreciates the support he and his program have received so many people from university and the country. Now that this is concluded, the coach can continue to focus on the basketball season and consider his legal options during the season outside season – but now is time to move forward.
Florida’s historical season
The investigation into the alleged sexual misconduct of Golden this season has completed while Florida – which started the classified season n ° 21 in the AP survey – was a historic success on hardwood.
The team, which plays on Sunday against Tennessee in the championship of the dry tournament, amassed 29 victories-fourth (and count) in the history of the school in a single season behind 2013-14 (36), 2006-07 (35) and 2005-06 (33).
He enters the selection on Sunday with the offense n ° 3 and the defense n ° 7 in the efficiency ratings adjusted to Kenpom, which assesses team n ° 2 in the general classification in university basketball behind only Duke.
The Gators should also win a seeded n ° 1 Sunday for the first time since 2013-2014 in what was the penultimate season of Billy Donovan with the Gators.
Another title IX survey
While the Golden title IX survey was still open this season, a A separate survey of title IX was opened on the Florida assistant and the former Gators Taurean Green star in mid-January. In this case, an employee of the Florida athletics department filed a complaint against the assault against Green, accusing him of making unwanted advances towards her.
These advances were made at a meeting set up by Green in which he is accused of having tried to kiss him and put his hands in his pants. She rejected the advances before Green would try again before finally fleeing.
Green is still with the team. The investigation remains in progress.
