Reportedly accused of sexual harassment and stalking by multiple women, Florida coach Todd Golden is expected to coach the Gators in Monday’s home game against Grambling State, 247Sports reported on Saturday.
After Florida’s student newspaper reported on Friday that Golden has been accused of sexually harassing female students, the coach issued a statement on social media on Saturday.
“For the last month, I have actively participated in and respected the confidentiality of an ongoing school inquiry,” Golden wrote on X. “I have recently engaged (attorney) Ken Turkel to advise me on my ability to bring defamation claims while this confidential investigation is ongoing. My family and I appreciate the support we have received and remain confident the university will continue its efforts to finish its review promptly.”
The Alligator, citing Title IX documents filed on Sept. 27, said Golden has been accused of potential violations of the school’s Gender Equity Policy. They include acts of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and the stalking of Florida students over the past year.
Per the report, Golden sent “photos and videos of his genitalia while traveling for UF,” used social media to make sexual advances and request sexual favors, and stalked women. He is alleged to have taken photos of women, then send the pictures to them, and also of making visits to places where he knew he could find those same women.
The Alligator interviewed two women who said they had complained about Golden, and they corroborated the Title IX documents.
They said Golden had followed, then unfollowed, numerous women on social media to avoid suspicion, and one of them said his reach to women was vast. He told many women they were “his drug” or “his good luck charm” before games, she said.
“He just had this manipulation tactic over everyone,” the woman told The Alligator. “And he sent us all the same (messages). It was copy-paste to every girl.”
Golden, 39, was hired March 18, 2022, as the 20th head coach in Gators history. He came from San Francisco, where he led the Dons to a 57-36 record over three seasons, including a pair of 20-win seasons and their first NCAA Tournament bid in more than two decades.
Prior to San Francisco, he worked under coach Bruce Pearl at Auburn.
Last season, in his second campaign with the Gators, Golden led the team to 24 wins, a No. 7 seed in the NCAA Tournament, and the SEC tournament championship game for the first time since 2014.
The No. 21 Gators are 2-0 on the season.
Golden is married and the father of a young son and daughter.
–Field Level Media
