Florida has cleared men's basketball head coach Todd Golden of wrongdoing after claims of stalking and sexual harassment sparked a Title IX investigation back in the fall.
“After a thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews over the past months, the University of Florida has found no evidence that Todd Golden violated Title IX,” Florida spokesman Steve Orlando told the Orlando Sentinel. “The Title IX office has closed its investigation.”
In an expose by student newspaper The Alligator, Golden was accused sending unwanted photos and tracking the movements of multiple women students on the UF campus. The university's Title IX office received a formal complaint in September, and the newspaper reported on the allegations in November.
Golden's attorney William Shepherd released a statement on Monday.
“We take these matters seriously and understand the need for the process to be conducted with strict confidentiality and discretion,” Florida's athletics department said in response. “Throughout this process Coach Golden has demonstrated tremendous focus and professionalism, and we commend him for that. As the Gators move forward, we reaffirm our commitment to promoting a championship experience with integrity.”
In his third season on the job, Golden currently has Florida at 18-2 and ranked No. 5 in the AP poll. He coached the Gators during the investigation.
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