Florida males’s basketball head coach Todd Golden has been accused by an undefined variety of girls for sexual harassment and stalking, in accordance with Title IX paperwork obtained by The Alligator.
The College of Florida obtained a proper Title IX criticism on Golden Sept. 27 alleging that he engaged in numerous conduct that probably violated the UF Gender Fairness Coverage.
To be able to adjust to federal legislation, UF can’t touch upon or affirm any Title IX inquiries, complaints or investigations, in accordance with a UF spokesperson.
The formal Title IX criticism towards Golden obtained by The Alligator consists of allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking. The criticism alleges that over a yr, Golden particularly aimed these behaviors towards UF college students.
The claims concerning sexual harassment, which might additionally embody sexual exploitation, cited undesirable sexual advances on Instagram, requesting sexual favors, sending photographs and movies of his genitalia whereas touring for UF and numerous events of stalking.
There was allegedly multiple event wherein Golden was taking photographs of girls strolling or driving and sending these photos to the themes concerned. Numerous stalking incidents additionally included Golden exhibiting as much as places the place he knew the ladies could be.
On allegedly multiple event, Golden was participating girls on Instagram by liking photographs then ready till they learn the DM earlier than un-liking the photographs to keep away from suspicion.
Golden launched a press release on Nov. 9 concerning the Title IX claims which have been filed towards him. The statement got here simply over 24 hours after The Alligator reported he was the topic of a sexual harassment and stalking investigation.
He confirmed there may be an ongoing investigation and he’ll respect the case’s privateness because it strikes into its subsequent levels.
“For the final month, I’ve actively participated in and revered the confidentiality of an ongoing faculty inquiry,” Golden wrote in a press release on his X account. “I’ve not too long ago engaged Ken Turkel to advise me on my capability to deliver defamation claims whereas this confidential investigation is ongoing. My household and I respect the help we now have obtained and stay assured the college will proceed its efforts to complete its evaluate promptly.”
There was no official assertion launched by UF or the lads’s basketball program concerning the standing of Golden’s tenure at Florida. The group will play a house sport on Monday night on the Stephen C. O’Connell Middle, the place Golden will likely be current.
The Alligator spoke with two separate girls who attested to Golden’s habits and requested to stay nameless for security causes. Because the investigation started, there was a small quantity of motion that was taken by UF, each girls mentioned.
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The primary lady, a former UF pupil, mentioned that Golden stalked her in individual, each in his automotive and on foot, and that this occurred “greater than 10 occasions.” On one event, she mentioned she posted her location on her Instagram story, and Golden messaged her shortly after saying that he was within the space “ready for [her].”
She additionally mentioned Golden despatched unsolicited photographs of his genitalia to her. On a number of events, the primary lady mentioned she obtained the photographs whereas the group was touring on the highway. The character of Golden’s alleged stalking grew to become extra assertive over time, she mentioned.
“At first, it begins off sluggish, like, ‘Oh, wow. That’s odd. This man is exhibiting us consideration,’” the primary lady mentioned. “After which it turns into, ‘Wow, he’s form of crossing a line. No, he didn’t imply it that means.’ Then it’s, ‘Wait, he’s absolutely stepping over that line.’ After which it’s, ‘Wow, there’s an image of his d*ck.’ It was a full grooming course of with all of us.”
Each the primary lady and the second lady, additionally a former UF pupil, corroborated that Golden favored Instagram posts of theirs courting again to 2023, typically even older. Moreover, they mentioned he favored a number of posts directly, supposedly in an try and get the ladies’s consideration earlier than going again and unliking them to keep away from suspicion.
“He would go at such lengths about it,” the primary lady mentioned. “He would return, like a yr again, and like 10 photographs directly. Then, clearly, [he] adopted up with a DM, at all times in vanish mode… Simply actually aggressive Instagram stalking is the easiest way to clarify that.”
Golden had been in touch with each girls for over a yr earlier than unfollowing them after they had been advised UF started wanting into his habits this previous August, they mentioned.
In accordance with Snoopreport, a publicly accessible Instagram exercise monitoring software program, Golden unfollowed 118 accounts on the platform between Aug. 1 and Sept. 1. Not less than 20, if no more, of those accounts seem to have been younger girls with out connection to the Florida basketball program, or every other organizations that Golden had been beforehand affiliated with. The ladies individually confirmed that Golden had blocked them moderately than unfollowed.
The second lady mentioned Golden advised quite a few girls that they had been “his drug” or “his good luck allure” earlier than video games.
“He had this manipulation tactic over everybody,” she mentioned. “And he despatched us all the identical sh*t. It was copy-paste to each lady.”
Each girls additionally allege UF Particular Assistant Ralphie Ferrari and UF Director of Basketball Technique and Analytics Jonathan Safir had been complicit in Golden’s misconduct.
The primary lady mentioned this misconduct goes past Golden. She believes there’s a tradition of sexual harassment inside Florida’s teaching employees that has solely grown since his arrival in Gainesville over two years in the past, she mentioned.
“I believe it’s only a sick f*cking joke that they’re all doing, inside that group, all of the coaches,” she mentioned. “They in all probability get off by exhibiting one another the images…There’s one thing f*cking sick happening there.”
Contact Jack Meyer and Max Tucker at jmeyer@alligator.org and mtucker@alligator.org. Comply with them on X @jackmeyerUF and @Max_Tuckr1.
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Jack Meyer
Jack Meyer is a fourth-year journalism main and the Assistant Sports activities Editor for The Alligator. In his free time, he enjoys reviewing music, spending time with pals, taking part in video video games and going to the gymnasium.
Max Tucker
Max Tucker is a junior switch pupil at UF. After acquiring his A.A. in Journalism from Santa Fe School in 2023, he selected additional his schooling at Florida’s School of Journalism and Communications. Max is at the moment pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Journalism with a specialization in sports activities and media. He enjoys {golfing} and going to the seashore together with his pals in his free time.
