Report: Florida head coach Todd Golden accused of sexual harassment, stalking in Title IX complaint

Florida head men’s basketball coach Todd Golden has been accused by an unknown number of women of sexual harassment and stalking, according to a report from Florida’s student newspaper, The Alligator.

The allegations include sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking aimed at Florida students for over a year, according to a formal Title IX complaint obtained by The Alligator.

The University of Florida administration didn’t comment to The Alligator, citing federal law that prevents them from confirm or commenting on Title IX processes.

The Alligator also reported on the purported nature of the alleged sexual harassment outlined in the complaint, which reportedly included “unwanted sexual advances on Instagram, requesting sexual favors, sending photos and videos of his genitalia while traveling for UF and various occasions of stalking.”

Golden is also alleged to have gone to various locations he knew the women would be, as well as taking pictures of them or their vehicles and sending them to them, according to the report. He is also alleged to have used Instagram to try and engage with the women, liking a post and quickly unliking it, but still causing a notification, according to the report.

The Alligator also spoke to multiple women who attested to the alleged behaviors from Golden.

One, a Florida student, said Golden stalked her both on foot and in his car upwards of 10 times and also responded to her posting her location on Instagram by saying he was in the area “waiting for [her],” according to the report. This woman also said Golden sent unsolicited photos of his genitalia to her, often when he was traveling with the team on the road.

“At first, it starts off slow, like, ‘Oh, wow. That’s odd. This guy is showing us attention,’” that woman said to The Alligator. “And then it becomes, ‘Wow, he’s kind of crossing a line. No, he didn’t mean it that way.’ Then it’s, ‘Wait, he’s fully stepping over that line.’ And then it’s, ‘Wow, there’s a picture of his d*ck.’ It was a full grooming process with all of us.”

The Alligator also examined Golden’s Instagram activity, and found that he unfollowed 118 accounts between Aug. 1 and Sept. 1 of this year and that at least 20 appear to be “young women without connection to the Florida basketball program, or any other organizations that Golden has previous affiliated with.” The women confirmed with The Alligator that Golden had blocked them.

A second woman told The Alligator that Golden told numerous women that they were “his drug” or “his good luck charm” before games.

Golden entering Year 3 at Florida

Golden’s status moving forward is unclear. Florida is 2-0 through the first week of the 2024-25 season.

Golden, 39, was hired as the Florida men’s basketball head coach ahead of the 2022 season, coming over after a successful stint leading the San Francisco men’s basketball program.

Golden had worked as an assistant at San Francisco prior to serving as a head coach there. He also served as an assistant coach at Columbia and Auburn early in his career.

Golden signed a contract extension with Florida earlier in 2024, according to the Associated Press. That extension tacked two years onto the length of his contract, running it through the end of the 2029-30 season and raising his annual compensation by $1 million. Golden reportedly earns $4 million annually under the terms of the extension.

His initial contract with Florida was reportedly for six years and $18 million. Inked in 2022, the initial terms of the contract ran through the 2027-28 season.

Golden is 42-29 as head coach for Florida has a 99-65 record overall as a head coach. He is 0-2 in the NCAA Tournament, making one appearance each at San Francisco and Florida.

He played college basketball for St. Mary’s from 2004-08 and had a brief professional career overseas before getting into college coaching in 2012.