Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden is facing allegations of sexual harassment and stalking from multiple women, as detailed in Title IX documents obtained by The Alligator.
A formal Title IX complaint was filed with the University of Florida (UF) on September 27, accusing Golden of conduct potentially violating the university’s Gender Equity Policy. The complaint alleges that over the past year, Golden directed behavior such as sexual harassment, stalking, and sexual exploitation toward UF students.
According to the complaint, Golden is accused of making unwanted sexual advances via Instagram, soliciting sexual favors, and sending explicit photos and videos of himself while traveling with the team. Reports also include instances of stalking, such as photographing women without their consent, sending these images to them, and showing up at locations where he knew they would be present. On Instagram, Golden allegedly liked multiple posts from women, unliked them after the messages were read, and used “vanish mode” to conceal his direct messages.
Golden released a statement on November 9, acknowledging the ongoing investigation and emphasizing his cooperation. He also indicated plans to explore defamation claims. Meanwhile, UF has declined to comment on or confirm any Title IX investigations due to federal confidentiality requirements.
Two former UF students have spoken out anonymously about Golden’s alleged behavior. One woman claimed Golden stalked her over ten times, both on foot and in his car, and even messaged her after seeing her location on Instagram, saying he was “waiting for [her].” Both women reported receiving inappropriate photos from Golden, some sent while the team was traveling.
The allegations extend beyond Golden. The women also implicated UF Special Assistant Ralphie Ferrari and UF Director of Basketball Strategy and Analytics Jonathan Safir, accusing them of enabling the misconduct. One woman described a pervasive culture of sexual harassment among the basketball staff, asserting that inappropriate behaviors seemed normalized within the organization.
Despite the ongoing investigation, UF has not commented on Golden’s status with the basketball program. He is still scheduled to coach the team in their next game at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
Both women expressed concerns about the lack of action from UF since the investigation began, describing Golden’s behavior as escalating over time and accusing the coaching staff of fostering a toxic environment.
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