UF basketball coach faces sexual harassment and stalking charges

Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden has been accused of sexual harassment and stalking by an unspecified number of women, according to Title IX documents obtained by The Alligator.

The University of Florida received a formal Title IX complaint on Golden Sept. 27 alleging he engaged in various conduct that may have violated UF’s gender equity policy.

To comply with federal law, UF cannot comment on or confirm Title IX inquiries, complaints or investigations, according to a UF spokesperson.

The formal Title IX complaint against Golden, obtained by The Alligator, includes allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking. The complaint alleges that Golden targeted UF students with these behaviors over a year.

The allegations of sexual harassment, which could include sexual exploitation, included sending photos and videos of his genitals while traveling for UF, making unwanted sexual advances on Instagram, asking for sexual favors and various stalking opportunities.

There was allegedly more than one occasion where Golden took photos of women walking or driving and sent those images to the people involved. During various stalking incidents, Golden also showed up at locations where he knew the women would be.

Golden allegedly approached women on Instagram on more than one occasion by liking photos and then waiting until they read the direct message before liking the photos so as not to arouse suspicion.

The UF men’s basketball coaching staff did not respond in time for publication.

The Alligator spoke to two different women who confirmed Golden’s behavior and asked to remain anonymous for safety reasons. Little action has been taken by UF since the investigation began, both women said.

The first woman, a former UF student, said that Golden personally stalked her, both in his car and on foot, and that this happened “more than 10 times.” At one point, she said she posted her location on her Instagram Story, and Golden texted her shortly after that he was in the area and “waiting for her.” [her].”

She also said Golden sent her unsolicited photos of his genitals. The first woman said several times that she received the photos while the team was traveling. The nature of Golden’s alleged stalking became clearer over time, she said.

“At first it starts slow and goes, ‘Oh, wow. That’s strange. “This guy is paying attention to us,” the first woman said. “And then it becomes like, ‘Wow, he’s kind of crossing a line. No, he didn’t mean it like that.’ Then it’s like, ‘Wait, he’s completely crossing that line.’ And then it’s like, ‘Wow, there’s a picture of his cock.’ It was a comprehensive grooming process for all of us.”