The University of Florida on Monday cleared basketball coach Todd Golden of a Title IX complaint that included allegations of sexual harassment and stalking of multiple women, including Florida students.
In a statement, Florida announced that it was closing the investigation after finding “no evidence” of a Title IX violation.
“The University of Florida takes these matters seriously and works deliberately to ensure that due process is upheld for everyone,” Florida’s statement reads. “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.”
Golden also released a statement addressing the decision and thanking Florida’s University Athletic Association for its support.
“The last several months have been a challenge for my family and me while this process dragged on,” Golden’s statement reads. “We asked for the public to allow the process to work through to its conclusion and not rush to judgment based on allegations. The UAA and so many at the university have been tremendously supportive — my family and I are extremely grateful.
“And thank you to our fans for your incredible support for our players and our program. It has made a huge difference.”
What Golden was accused of
The complaints against Golden were first reported in November by Florida’s student newspaper, The Independent Florida Alligator. Per the complaints, Golden was accused of making unwanted sexual advances on social media and taking photos of women who were walking or driving and sending them to those women.
Golden was also accused of sending photos and videos of his genitalia and showing up to locations of where he knew that the women he was accused of stalking would be.
Golden, 39, has continued to coach the program throughout the investigation. Following a Nov. 11 win over Grambling, Florida’s first game since the allegations were reported, Golden asked the public to “let the process take place.”
“Obviously in this situation, due process, and to continue to support our guys and I would just hope that they would let the process take place and see where it ends up,” Golden said in his postgame news conference.
Golden’s attorney criticizes ‘meritless’ claim
On Monday, Golden’s attorney, William Sheppard released a statement criticizing the complaint as “meritless.”
“Coach Golden and I have respected the process throughout while actively engaging with the university,” Sheppard’s statement reads. “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 lawyer 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.”
A separate Title IX investigation involving a sexual assault allegation against Florida assistant coach Taurean Green remains open. Green, a former Florida player who won NCAA championships with the program in 2006 and 2007, is accused of kissing a female athletic department employee and putting his hand down her pants, per a complaint reported by ESPN in January.
Green has not addressed the allegation publicly and continues to coach. Golden was critical of the process’ lack of confidentiality when he announced that Green would continue to coach in January.
“So as frustrating and as disappointing and as hard as it is to do, I am going to do what I think I need to do and continue to respect the process, as I have.”
Florida is off to an 18-2 start and ranked No. 5 in the nation. Golden is in his third year as the program’s head coach after previously coaching at the University of San Francisco.