Two Florida hoops coaches are the subject of a university investigation. Both are still training

At first glance, a casual men’s basketball fan might think that everything is bogged down. The Gators’ most recent game was a thorough 30-point stomping of rival Georgia. The squad is 18-2, third in the SEC and ranked in the top 10 in both the coaches and AP polls. After years without a deep run in March Madness, the Rowdy Reptiles of Stephen C. O’Connell appear to be on the verge of success Centers finally have a good reason to get loud.

Except November 8th The Independent Florida Alligator broke the story that the team’s head coach, Todd Golden, has been the subject of a University Title IX investigation since September. Per The alligatorThe complaint states that Golden was investigated for allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking of Florida students. Out of The alligator:

The sexual harassment claims, which could include sexual exploitation, cited unwanted sexual advances on Instagram, requesting sexual favors, sending photos and videos of his genitals while traveling to UF and various occasions of stalking.

There was allegedly more than one occasion where Golden took photos of women walking or driving and sent those images to the subjects involved. Various stalking incidents also included Golden showing up to places where he knew the women would be.

On reportedly more than one occasion, Golden targeted women on Instagram by liking photos and then waiting for her to read the DM before dismissing the photos to avoid suspicion.

Golden responded by releasing a statement acknowledging the investigation, mentioning he had spoken to a lawyer about filing a defamation claim, and saying he and his family appreciate the support we have received and remain confident that the university will continue its efforts to complete his evaluation immediately. ”

Weeks later, the Florida Student Senate passed a vague resolution reaffirming its commitment to the university’s Title IX policies. A separate Student Senate resolution cited two other former Florida coaches as toxic environments created by former players in recent years and a policy barring a university employee from public events as part of a Title IX investigation requested. The alligatorrepealed by the Senate majority party.

This month, ESPN reported that an employee of Florida’s athletics department (which operates separately from the university as a varsity athletic association) filed a sexual assault complaint against assistant men’s basketball coach Taurean Green. Green was previously known among Gators fans as the point guard on the squad that won consecutive national championships. From ESPN:

The woman, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, told the school’s Title IX that in March 2024, men’s basketball coach Taurean Green arranged a meeting with her at the athletic facilities, where he kissed and tempted her to put his pants in, according to a copy of the complaint reviewed by ESPN.

She pulled his hand away and said no, and he tried again, at which point she got away, according to the complaint. Until that day, she had never been alone with Green and had only exchanged casual greetings with him on campus, she told ESPN in an interview.

The woman told ESPN that she didn’t report what happened at first because Green was into Florida basketball. She changed her mind after learning about Golden’s investigation. The complaint was filed on January 14th.

A day after the ESPN report, Golden said that Green would continue coaching and he wanted people “not to judge based on a headline.” Golden added, according to the Associated Press, that he was “disappointed that a Title IX mechanism that protects both sides in a situation like this – that confidentiality and privacy continues to be abused.”

That was on January 17th. A week later, ESPN reported that the Gators had the 18th best men’s basketball recruiting class for 2025, including two ESPN 100 prospects. As of publication, the university had not provided any significant public updates on either Title IX investigation.

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