University of Florida men’s basketball head coach Todd Golden has been accused of harassment, among other activities that raise a red flag. According to the claims, he harassed multiple women on social media.
Official Complaint Prompts Investigation
UF was notified, via a formal Title IX complaint dated Sept. 27, of allegations against Golden detailing behavior that may have violated the university’s Gender Equity Policy. UF has not been allowed to comment on or confirm details of the Title IX complaint or any investigations regarding the same due to compliance with federal regulations, a university spokesperson said.
A complaint filed against him and obtained by The Alligator lists inappropriate messages, unwanted advances, and stalking. It claims that over the past year, Golden directed these actions mostly toward UF students. The alleged harassment includes graphic messages, repeated online interactions, and instances of Golden physically showing up in places he knew women were likely to be.
Women Involved Detail Patterns of Behavior
Two women, both former UF students who requested to remain anonymous due to concerns regarding their safety, spoke with The Alligator about their interactions with Golden. They said their interactions with him built up over time. One of the two said Golden followed her more than 10 times in his car and on foot following her posting her location via Instagram.
She described how Golden’s advances began with subtlety, liking photos and sometimes messaging, but his behavior became more and more forceful. She said Golden sent her unsolicited graphic photos on away team trips that made her uncomfortable and harassed.
A second woman corroborated this behavior, saying Golden often interacted with her social media as far back as 2023. She said he would often like multiple photos at once to possibly get her attention, only to go back and unlike them so that the like isn’t detected.
Manipulative Tactics and Broader Concerns
The women said Golden often went into “vanish mode” on social media, sending messages that would immediately disappear upon being read. Each woman said he sometimes referred to women as “his good luck charms” before games and told them things that were similar, if not identical, in conversations with each of them.
Both women said it all seemed calculated and that Golden’s alleged tactics entailed much more than just social media, putting them in an uncomfortable environment.
An investigation by the Alligator revealed that Golden, in the months leading up to September, had unfollowed over 100 Instagram accounts, many of whom were young women with no relation to UF athletics. The women interviewed said Golden blocked them on Instagram once UF started its investigation.
Extending Liability: A Bigger Culture to Answer
The first woman to come forward spoke about the broader culture within the Florida men’s basketball program. She indicated that two other staffers, Special Assistant Ralphie Ferrari, and Director of Basketball Strategy Jonathan Safir knew about Golden’s behavior and did nothing to stop him. Neither Ferrari nor Safir was named in the Title IX complaint; but according to the former student, their inaction exemplifies a staff-wide culture that could be permissive toward such behavior.
She stated this was not an isolated problem at Golden and that she felt there might be an overall atmosphere of harassment. To date, UF has been relatively silent on the matter. It is anyone’s guess if the response by the university could ignite any other events related to the Title IX investigation and more than a few people will be waiting for what ramifications, if any, the institution may take.
