Florida men’s basketball coach Todd Golden has been accused of sexual harassment and stalking, according to a Title IX complaint filed with the university on September 27. The allegations were reported by Jack Meyer and Max Tucker from The Alligator on Friday afternoon, shedding light on serious claims against the 39-year-old coach.
The complaint accuses Golden of engaging in “sexual exploitation, sexual harassment, and stalking” involving students at the University of Florida. These allegations suggest a troubling pattern of behavior that could have serious implications for both Golden and the university if substantiated.
According to Meyer and Tucker’s report, the complaint details incidents in which Golden allegedly took pictures of women without their consent and later sent those photos to the women. The complaint further alleges that Golden used social media to interact with his targets in a manipulative way.
Specifically, Golden reportedly engaged with women on Instagram by liking their photos and then sending direct messages (DMs). After the women read his messages, Golden allegedly unliked the photos in an apparent attempt to avoid drawing attention or suspicion.
“On allegedly more than one occasion, Golden was engaging women on Instagram by liking photos then waiting until they read the DM before un-liking the photos to avoid suspicion,” Meyer and Tucker wrote in their report. This alleged behavior, if proven true, could indicate a calculated effort by Golden to manipulate his social media presence in a way that would allow him to continue harassing individuals without being easily detected.
The Alligator also interviewed two women who spoke under the condition of anonymity, both of whom suggested that Golden’s alleged actions were part of a larger pattern of misconduct within the Gators’ men’s basketball program. Their statements imply that the culture surrounding the program may have contributed to an environment where such behavior was normalized or overlooked.
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Golden, who is currently in his third year as head coach of the Florida Gators, has compiled a record of 42-29 since taking over the program.
He led the Gators to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament in 2024, and prior to his tenure at Florida, Golden was the head coach at the University of San Francisco, where he also guided the Dons to the tournament in 2022. Despite these coaching successes, the recent allegations cast a shadow over his career and raise questions about his conduct off the court.
The University of Florida has not yet made an official public statement regarding the Title IX complaint or the status of Coach Golden.
Title IX complaints are handled with utmost confidentiality to protect the privacy of those involved, and the university is likely to conduct a thorough investigation into the matter. If the allegations are substantiated, the repercussions could be severe, potentially impacting Golden’s employment status with the university.
Sexual harassment and stalking are serious accusations, particularly within a university setting, where the safety and well-being of students are of paramount importance.
The allegations against Todd Golden have already begun to stir conversations about the culture within the athletics department at Florida and the responsibility of coaches and staff to maintain professional and ethical behavior.
As the investigation continues, the focus will be on determining the credibility of the allegations and ensuring that all individuals involved are treated fairly. Title IX is designed to protect students from discrimination based on sex, including sexual harassment and misconduct, and the university is obligated to address any potential violations of this policy swiftly and thoroughly.
While Todd Golden’s accomplishments on the court have garnered praise, the current allegations bring a very different kind of scrutiny. The university community and the wider sports world will be closely watching how this situation unfolds and whether any disciplinary action will be taken.
For now, Golden’s future at Florida remains uncertain, as the Title IX investigation seeks to uncover the truth behind the claims made against him.
