Florida closes Title IX investigation into Todd Golden finding ‘no evidence’ of rules violations

Basketball

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Image Credit: Maddie Washburn, UAA

The University of Florida on Monday announced that it has closed a Title IX investigation into Florida Gators men’s basketball coach Todd Golden amid allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment of multiple female students. UF said it “found no evidence” that Golden, 39, violated Title IX policies.

The university said in a statement: “The University of Florida takes these matters seriously and works deliberately to ensure that due process is upheld for everyone. 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.”

The University Athletic Association similarly acknowledged that the review has been closed. “We take these matters seriously and understand the need for the process to be conducted with strict confidentiality and discretion,” the UAA said in its own statement. “Throughout this process, Coach Golden has demonstrated tremendous focus and professionalism, and we commend him for that. As the Gators move forward, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting a championship experience with integrity.”

Golden did not miss a single game while under investigation. He has led the No. 5 Gators to an 18-2 mark this season, tying the best such run through 20 games in program history.

“The university’s conclusion proves that the complaint was meritless,” explained Golden’s attorney, William Shepherd, in a statement. “Coach Golden and I have respected the process throughout while actively engaging with the university. However, there were many who did not respect the investigative process. Instead, they sought to target Coach Golden and drive their agenda and this investigation for their own self-interest. Some leaked confidential material to the media; falsely posed as a UF layer 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.

“Coach Golden appreciates the support he and his program have received from so many at the university and from around the country. Now that this is concluded, Coach can continue to focus on the basketball season and consider his legal options in the offseason — but now it’s time to move forward.”

Among the allegations levied against Golden were that the third-year coach made unwanted sexual advances toward women, including asking for explicit sexual favors and sending unrequested pictures of his genitals. He was also alleged to have stalked women in person — sending women photos of themselves he took in public, attending locations where he would encounter them — and online by using social media likes and follows as a means of getting their attention.

Neither UF nor the UAA previously addressed the accusations nor investigation as they were unable to do so given federal Title IX law. Golden denied the allegations privately before ultimately responding on social media and threatening legal action following the leaked release of the Title IX complaint against him.

Golden agreed to a two-year extension in March through the 2029-30 season. Florida finished just under .500 in Year 1 under his coaching before significantly improving in 2023-24 going 24-12 (11-7 SEC) with its first NCAA Tournament berth in three seasons.

Aware of these allegations in private circles over the last 6-9 months, rivals attempted to use the rumors against Golden while recruiting against him this offseason, Only Gators previously learned.

Golden was one of athletic director Scott Stricklin’s signature acquisitions — arguably the most successful given his first three external coaching hires are no longer at UF amid a variety of misdeeds. The allegations levied against him created yet another negative headline for the athletic program as many of Stricklin’s hires to this point have proven to be problematic.

Former Florida star Taurean Green, a two-time national champion point guard who is now an assistant coach and head of player development under Golden, remains under a Title IX investigation amid an accusation of sexual assault by a UAA employee. Green is accused of arranging to meet the alleged victim in March 2024 at an on-campus facility where he “kissed her and tried to put his hand down her pants.” After she denied his advances, Green attempted again leading to the complainant fleeing the scene.