Todd Golden, the head coach of the University of Florida’s men’s basketball team, has been accused of sexual harassment by multiple women, according to a report from the university’s student newspaper, The Alligator. The allegations, based on Title IX documents filed on September 27, suggest that Golden violated the university’s Gender Equity Policy, which includes claims of sexual exploitation, harassment, and stalking of female students over the past year.
As of Friday afternoon, the university had not issued a public statement on the matter, and a spokesperson declined to comment. The investigation into these claims is ongoing.
Specific Allegations Against Golden
The report outlines a series of troubling accusations against Todd Golden, who has been the head coach of the Florida Gators since March 2022. According to the documents and interviews with women who have filed complaints, Golden allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior while traveling for university-related events. Specific allegations include:
- Sending explicit photos and videos of his genitalia to women during work-related travel.
- Using social media to initiate sexual advances and request sexual favors from female students.
- Stalking behavior, including photographing women and sending these images to them at a later time.
- Following and unfollowing women on social media to avoid detection and maintain contact.
One woman interviewed by The Alligator claimed that Golden would often refer to women as “his drug” or “his good luck charm” before games, and described his messages as manipulative, noting that he sent identical messages to multiple women, almost as if they were “copy-pasted.”
Two Women Confirm Allegations
Two women who spoke with The Alligator confirmed that they had filed complaints against Golden. Their statements matched the claims outlined in the Title IX documents. One of the women said that Golden would follow and unfollow her on social media in an attempt to avoid being caught, adding to the sense of manipulation and deceit.
Golden’s Background and Career
Todd Golden, aged 39, was hired as the University of Florida’s 20th head basketball coach on March 18, 2022. Prior to his time at Florida, Golden coached at San Francisco, where he led the team to a 57-36 record over three seasons, including two 20-win seasons and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament, marking the school’s first such appearance in over two decades.
Before his stint at San Francisco, Golden was part of Bruce Pearl’s coaching staff at Auburn University.
In his second season at Florida, Golden led the Gators to 24 wins, a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and an appearance in the SEC Tournament championship game, which was the Gators’ first time reaching that stage since 2014. As of this season, the No. 21-ranked Gators have a 2-0 record and are scheduled to play Grambling State on Monday.
Personal Life and Family
Todd Golden is married and has two young children, a son and a daughter. The allegations against him have raised significant concerns about his behavior and whether he has violated the ethical standards expected of a university employee.
Ongoing Investigation
The university is currently investigating the allegations, and the outcome of the inquiry may have significant repercussions for Golden’s career and future with the Florida Gators basketball program. As of now, the school has not commented publicly on the specific details of the investigation or any potential actions they may take.
These serious allegations have cast a shadow over what was once a promising coaching career for Todd Golden, and the university will likely face continued scrutiny in the coming weeks as the investigation unfolds.
