GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The University of Florida has concluded its four-month Title IX investigation into men's basketball coach Todd Golden, clearing him of allegations concerning sexual exploitation, harassment, and stalking. The announcement came on Monday as the Gators celebrated their best season in a decade, having achieved 18 wins in their first 20 games.
The university issued a statement affirming that no evidence was found to support the claims against Golden. University spokesman Steve Orlando emphasized the institution's commitment to due process, stating, “The University of Florida takes these matters seriously and works deliberately to ensure that due process is upheld for everyone.” He noted that the investigation included dozens of interviews over the past months and ultimately led to the closure of the case by the Title IX office.
Throughout the investigation, Todd Golden refrained from directly denying the allegations out of respect for the process but indicated potential legal action against his unidentified accusers. He recently voiced frustration regarding the confidentiality of Title IX proceedings, which he felt had been compromised. “I am just frustrated and disappointed that a Title IX mechanism that is created to protect both sides during a situation like this — that confidentiality and privacy continues to be abused,” Golden expressed earlier this month amidst another ongoing Title IX case involving assistant coach Taurean Green.
The accusations against Golden included allegations of sending explicit photos and videos, making unsolicited sexual advances via Instagram, and soliciting sexual favors. The Independent Florida Alligator was the first to report these allegations in early November.
Title IX serves to protect students from various forms of discrimination, including sexual harassment. In 2023, the University of Florida began outsourcing its Title IX investigations to Grand River Solutions, a private investigation firm based in California.
At 39 years old, Golden received a significant contract extension in March 2023, which added two years to his deal and included a $1 million raise, boosting his annual salary to $4 million. His contract is set to run through the 2029-30 season, during which he has a record of 58 wins and 31 losses over three seasons. The terms of his contract explicitly prohibit “romantic, amorous and/or sexual relationships” between coaches and student-athletes, and it includes provisions for disciplinary action should the coach's conduct adversely impact the university's reputation or mission.
In a parallel case, assistant coach Taurean Green is currently under investigation for allegations of sexual assault. According to the complaint reviewed by ESPN, Green is accused of inappropriate conduct, which includes kissing an athletic department employee and attempting to inappropriately touch her in March 2024. The individual involved stated she did not report the incident at the time due to Green’s position within the program. She later came forward after Title IX investigators, working on Golden’s case, sought to interview her about his interactions with female athletes. This inquiry prompted her to consider a potential pattern of concerning behavior within the basketball program.
As the university continues to navigate through these sensitive allegations, the outcomes of the ongoing cases will likely influence the environment within Florida's athletic program and have broader implications for the administration's handling of Title IX matters.
