Report: Title IX complaint filed against Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden for sexual harassment

On By Littum

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA - NOVEMBER 4: Florida Gators head coach Todd Golden looks on after a game against the South Florida Bulls at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena on November 4, 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Todd Golden is in his third season as the Florida men’s basketball coach. (Photo by James Gilbert/Getty Images)

Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden is reportedly accused of multiple counts of sexual harassment and stalking.

According to Florida’s student newspaper The Alligator, a formal Title IX complaint was filed against Golden on Sept. 27 for alleged violations of the school’s gender equality policy.

According to the complaint, Golden is accused of making unwanted advances to women on social media and stalking. These women include Florida students.

From the Alligator:

The allegations of sexual harassment, which could also include sexual exploitation, cited unwanted sexual advances on Instagram, requests for sexual favors, sending pictures and videos of his genitalia while traveling to UF and various occasions of stalking.

There was allegedly more than one occasion where Golden took pictures of women walking or driving and sent those pictures to the people involved. Various stalking incidents also included Golden showing up to places where he knew the women would be.

The report cites two women who allegedly witnessed Golden’s behavior. One of them said she was stalked by Golden “more than 10 times” and that he had sent her pictures of his genitals.

Golden, 39, is in his third season as Florida’s head coach, and his wife is listed in his biography on the school’s website. Florida hired him after the 2021-22 season to replace Mike White.

Golden was hired at Florida not long after the Alligator detailed allegations of misconduct against former women’s basketball coach Cameron Newbauer. Newbauer resigned in July 2021 as players accused him of abuse on numerous occasions. After Newbauer resigned, the school said it had asked Newbauer for “corrective actions” and that it “did not see the improvements needed.” Athletics director Scott Stricklin also said he ultimately took responsibility for the culture of the women’s basketball program.

Newbauer was the first coach hired by Stricklin after he came from Mississippi State. Stricklin hired Golden and said Thursday he would retain football coach Billy Napier as the Gators are 4-4 with four games left in the season.

After Florida went 20-14 in 2021-22, the Gators were just 16-17 in Golden’s first season. Last season, Florida improved to eight wins, going 24-12 after losing in the first round of the NCAA Tournament at No. 7. This season, the Gators are 2-0 heading into a Monday night game against Grambling.

Before coming to Florida, Golden was the head coach in San Francisco for three seasons. The Dons had two winning seasons during his tenure there and reached the NCAA Tournament in his final season. Before beginning his coaching career, Golden played basketball at St. Mary’s.