Florida basketball coach Todd Golden is reportedly accused of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment

Image source: Maddie Washburn, UAA

Florida Gators men’s basketball coach Todd Golden is under a Title IX investigation by the University of Florida over allegations of sexual misconduct and sexual harassment against several women, including female students. Golden, 39, is in his third year leading the program and entered the 2024-25 season ranked No. 21 nationally.

The allegations include that Golden made unwanted sexual advances toward women, including asking for explicit sexual favors and sending unsolicited images of his genitals. He is also accused of stalking women in person – by sending the women photos of himself taken in public and visiting places where he encountered them – and online, by sending social media likes and -Follows to get their attention.

Neither UF nor the University Athletic Association are able to respond to the allegations or investigation due to federal Title IX law. Golden has privately denied the allegations, Only Gators has learned.

The Independent Florida Alligator, which first reported the allegations and notes that the Title IX complaint was originally filed on September 27, obtained specific details about incidents from two women who said they were contacted and harassed by Golden as students . These incidents fit the description of the allegations contained in the documents.

“He just used these manipulation tactics on everyone,” one woman told The Alligator in reference to Golden’s cyberstalking. “And he sent us all the same shit. It had to be copied and pasted for each girl.”

The Alligator further reports that two Florida employees (not coaches) “were involved in Golden’s misconduct”; However, statements in this regard appeared to be highly speculative and no details were provided regarding the possible involvement of employees in these or other incidents.

Golden agreed to a two-year extension through the 2029-30 season in March. The Gators finished just under .500 in the first year under his coach before improving significantly to 24-12 (11-7 SEC) in the 2023-24 season and earning their first NCAA Tournament berth in three seasons.

Golden is one of athletic director Scott Stricklin’s most significant acquisitions – arguably his most successful, considering his first three outside coaches were no longer hired at Florida due to a series of misdeeds – and would be the latest in a long line of problematic coaches for Stricklin has stopped, these allegations should prove to be proven.

Former football coach Tony Amato was fired in 2022 amid allegations of widespread mistreatment of players during his only season leading the program. Among the allegations against Amato was that the coach commented on players’ eating habits and body shapes — even though he knew some had struggled with eating disorders — and took steps to admonish or punish players, depending on how much they ate or weighed.

Former women’s basketball coach Cameron Newbauer resigned in 2021 after allegedly creating a toxic environment and verbally abusing female players. Six weeks before his departure, despite a barrage of internal allegations against Newbauer and a handful of complaints from players’ parents, Stricklin announced that the coach had signed a contract extension.

Former football head coach Dan Mullen was sentenced to a one-year citation and one year of probation by the NCAA for recruiting violations. He also gave the university a black eye with public statements about a desire to “pack up” The Swamp during the raging COVID-19 pandemic. Following Mullen’s departure, players under current head coach Billy Napier expressed significant dissatisfaction with their living arrangements, team meals and even on-campus parking – issues that were ignored by Mullen’s staff.

While significantly different from the allegations against Amato and Newbauer, some of Mullen’s lapses raise further questions about Stricklin’s dealings with the athletic department and the coaches he hired.

Add the allegations about Golden to that pile and a clear picture emerges of what UAA and Gators athletics have become under Stricklin’s leadership.