The University of Florida (UF) is in the midst of a scandal as men’s basketball coach Todd Golden stands accused of sexual harassment, stalking, and sexual exploitation. On September 27, UF received a Title IX complaint detailing disturbing allegations that Golden sent unsolicited explicit photos, aggressively pursued students on social media, and engaged in stalking.
One woman interviewed by Independent Florida Alligator detailed over ten instances of stalking, including messages from Golden after she posted her location on Instagram, where he claimed to be nearby and “waiting.” Another woman who spoke with the paper described obsessive online behavior, including excessive Instagram activity, such as liking and unliking old posts and using vanish mode for private messages. It was “aggressive Instagram stalking,” the first woman said, a pattern of grooming through inappropriate advances, beginning with seemingly friendly attention that escalated into boundary violations. “It started small, but it crossed every line.”
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This is not the first time a staff member of UF’s athletic department has faced misconduct allegations.
Under Athletic Director Scott Stricklin, the current athletic director, former women’s basketball coach Cameron Newbauer resigned in 2021 following accusations of creating a toxic environment that included verbal abuse and intimidation. Similarly, former women’s soccer coach Tony Amato departed in 2022 amid allegations of player mistreatment, including inappropriate comments about athletes’ weight and fitness. So much scandal has occurred under Stricklin that Trey Wallace recently wrote, “There’s nothing about the job Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin has done over the past eight years that should give the school confidence that he should be able to hire another Gators coach.”
Golden joined UF in 2022 following a successful tenure as head coach at the University of San Francisco, where he gained recognition as an emerging talent in college basketball. In 2024, he led the Gators to the NCAA Tournament and secured a contract extension through 2030, underscoring his promising trajectory. However, the recent allegations against him now threaten to eclipse his accomplishments and pose significant challenges to the stability and reputation of UF’s basketball program, especially as claims in the Title IX complaint suggest that other members of the coaching staff may have been aware of Golden’s behavior. Special Assistant Ralphie Ferrari and Director of Basketball Strategy Jonathan Safir were named as individuals who might have known about the misconduct. The first woman mentioned before told the Alligator, “I think it is just a sick … joke that they’re all doing, within that organization, all the coaches.”
Golden has denied the allegations, releasing this statement on X:
For the last month, I have actively participated in and respected the confidentiality of an ongoing school inquiry. I have recently engaged Ken Turkel to advise me on my ability to bring defamation claims while this confidential investigation is ongoing. My family and I appreciate the support we have received and remain confident the university will continue its efforts to finish its review promptly.
The allegations against Golden are not just part of a troubling trend of misconduct at UF, but also in collegiate sports nationwide.
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High-profile cases such as that of Mel Tucker—as well as older known accounts of Penn State’s Jerry Sandusky and Larry Nassar—show that there are ongoing challenges universities face in not only hiring the right people for the job but also holding influential figures such as many of these college coaches accountable. Not to mention, these scandals often reveal deep-rooted cultural and structural flaws that prioritize athletic prestige over community safety.
These incidents extend far beyond the athletic department, undermining trust, tarnishing reputations, and compromising campus culture across the university. While high-profile athletic programs are essential for visibility and funding, scandals tied to them carry far-reaching consequences.
If the allegations against Golden are proven true, it will prove that a troubling power imbalance exists between coaches and students at UF. As the Title IX investigation unfolds, the broader implications for higher education are clear: universities must prioritize accountability and transparency. For UF, robust hiring practices, prevention measures, and response protocols are essential to genuinely protect students.
Follow Jessi Wynn on X.
Image of UF’s Basketball Court on Flickr
