Florida coach Todd Golden will run the squad in Monday evening’s house recreation towards Grambling State regardless of being below investigation by the college for sexual harassment, stalking and different misconduct.
The varsity advised media shops on Sunday that there was no change in Golden’s employment standing.
“Todd Golden’s standing as UF males’s basketball coach has not modified. He can be teaching the sport Monday evening,” a college spokesman advised ESPN.
Golden launched a press release Saturday that acknowledged the investigation and mentioned he has been in contact with lawyer Ken Turkel and contemplating submitting a defamation swimsuit.
“For the final month, I’ve actively participated in and revered the confidentiality of an ongoing faculty inquiry,” Golden wrote on social media. “I’ve lately engaged (lawyer) Ken Turkel to advise me on my means to carry defamation claims whereas this confidential investigation is ongoing. My household and I recognize the help we’ve acquired and stay assured the college will proceed its efforts to complete its overview promptly.”
The Alligator, a Florida scholar publication, cited Title IX paperwork filed on Sept. 27 that mentioned Golden has been accused of potential violations of the college’s Gender Fairness Coverage. They embrace acts of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and the stalking of Florida college students over the previous 12 months.
Per the report, Golden despatched “photographs and movies of his genitalia whereas touring for UF,” used social media to make sexual advances and request sexual favors, and stalked ladies. He’s alleged to have taken photographs of ladies, then ship the images to them, and in addition of constructing visits to locations the place he knew he might discover those self same ladies.
The Alligator interviewed two ladies who mentioned they’d complained about Golden, they usually corroborated the Title IX paperwork.
They mentioned Golden had adopted, then unfollowed, quite a few ladies on social media to keep away from suspicion, and one in all them mentioned his attain to ladies was huge. He advised many ladies they had been “his drug” or “his good luck appeal” earlier than video games, she mentioned.
“He simply had this manipulation tactic over everybody,” the lady advised The Alligator. “And he despatched us all the identical (messages). It was copy-paste to each lady.”
Golden, 39, was employed March 18, 2022, because the twentieth head coach in Gators historical past. He got here from San Francisco, the place he led the Dons to a 57-36 report over three seasons, together with a pair of 20-win seasons and their first NCAA Event bid in additional than twenty years.
Final season, in his second marketing campaign with the Gators, Golden led the staff to 24 wins, a No. 7 seed within the NCAA Event, and the SEC event championship recreation for the primary time since 2014.
After the season, Golden signed an extension that runs via the 2029-30 season.
The No. 21 Gators are 2-0 on the season.
Golden is married and the daddy of a younger son and daughter.
–Subject Stage Media
