GAINESVILLE — Florida Gators men’s basketball coach Todd Golden is under investigation by the school’s Title IX office for allegations of stalking, cyberstalking, sexual harassment and sexual exploitation by multiple women, including UF students, according to the school’s Independent Florida Alligator newspaper.
An alleged copy of the notice of the complaint filed Sept. 27, but unverifiable by the Orlando Sentinel, appeared online Friday and detailed allegations of activities during the previous 12 months. The Alligator obtained Title IX documents alleging the violations of UF’s Gender Equity Policy.
Golden, 39 and in his third season at UF, agreed to a two-year contract extension with a $1 million raise in March after he led the Gators to their first NCAA tournament berth since 2021.
The claims, according to The Alligator, accuse Golden of various occasions of stalking and that he made unwanted sexual advances on Instagram, requesting sexual favors and sending photos as well as videos of his genitalia while traveling for UF. On multiple occasions, he allegedly took pictures of women walking or driving, photographed their cars and showed up to locations where he knew the women would be.
UF has yet to offer a statement regarding the matter.
The Alligator interviewed two women about Golden’s behavior.
According to The Alligator, a female former UF student said Golden, who is married with two children, followed her both in his car and on foot “more than 10 times.”
Once, she told the newspaper, she posted her location on her Instagram account and Golden soon messaged that he was in the area “waiting.”
She also said Golden sent her unsolicited photos of his genitalia.
The second woman told The Alligator that Golden told numerous women that they were “his drug” or “his good luck charm” before games.
The school newspaper wrote that Snoopreport, a publicly accessible Instagram-tracking software, determined that Golden unfollowed 118 accounts on the platform between Aug. 1 and Sept. 1, 2024. At least 20 of these accounts appear to have been young women without connection to the basketball program.
“He just had this manipulation tactic over everyone,” the second woman said. “And he sent us all the same [messages]. It was copy-paste to every girl.”
The investigation into Golden is the third time since 2021 a Gators coach has been under scrutiny for unacceptable behavior.
Accusations of abuse and racial insensitivity by former Florida women’s basketball coach Cam Newbauer in March 2021 led to resignation for personal reasons in July, and just six weeks after he’d agreed to a three-year contract extension.
During the ensuing fallout, UF athletic director Scott Stricklin told a small group of reporters, “We failed in this situation.”
In April 2022, Stricklin then fired women’s soccer coach Tony Amato after just one season for reportedly pressuring players about their eating habits and weight.
Edgar Thompson can be reached at [email protected]
