Florida basketball coach Todd Golden is the subject of Title IX allegations of breach of contract

Florida basketball coach Todd Golden confirmed on social media over the weekend that he is the subject of a Title IX investigation allegations of sexual harassment and sexual misconductt, stalking and cyberstalking.

Golden stood by his statement after the Florida on Monday Gators’86-62 win over Grambling. In the statement, Golden said he is and has been cooperating with investigators came into contact with a defamation lawyer.

“I expressed my statement on Saturday and obviously I would like to give you more, but that’s all I can give at this time,” Golden said. “And so, for any questions regarding the ongoing investigation, I refer only to my statement on Saturday, and I regret that I cannot say more than that.”

According to the complaint, obtained by the Gainesville Sun, Golden’s conduct over the previous 12 months targeted multiple UF students. It is alleged that Golden made unwanted advances on social media, solicited sexual favors and sent photos of his genitals while traveling in his role for UF.

How allegations could breach Florida basketball coach Todd Golden’s contract

Golden agreed to the terms and conditions in March with a two-year contract extension that included a $1 million annual raise for an average salary of $4 million per season. The buyout protection amounts to 65% of the remaining value of his deal, which runs until 2030, and would amount to almost $16 million.

However, under the terms of Golden’s contract, he could be fired for a number of reasons if the allegations prove to be true.

– A clause in Golden’s contract requires him to comply with all laws and university rules, “repeated failure by the coach to exercise due care or to comply (other than by committing minor traffic violations and non-criminal offenses under law) and/or any undertaking and charge/of (or admission of guilt or no contest by) the coach for a criminal offense shall constitute a material breach of his agreement. The parties acknowledge that such non-compliance (whether or not prosecuted, enforced or even passed) an association review) conviction, indictment and/or plea will adversely affect the reputation, interests and/or missions of UF and such an event will impair the effectiveness of the coach under this Agreement or the Activities Agreement. undermine.

The term laws, according to Golden’s contract, “means all ordinances that include laws, regulations, rules, guidelines, written policies, administrative decisions, orders and constitutions of all official or authoritative interpretations thereof and all amendments, supplements and modifications thereto be in effect at the applicable time.”

Compliance with Title IX policies would be covered by such guidelines. Title IX is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal funding.

Golden would also be in conflict UF Sexual Harassment Policy if the allegations turned out to be true that he was harassing students. The policy states: “Any employee or student of the University who has harassed or discriminated against another employee or applicant or student will be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination or expulsion.”

– A clause in Golden’s operations agreement, which pays for the bulk of its deal through television and apparel rights, prohibits Golden from acting in a way that has an “adverse effect” or causes an “adverse reaction” to its “reputation, mission and/or or interests” of the “University Athletic Association” and/or “media rights holder” – or acts in a manner that “contradicts, interferes with or is inconsistent with” the “reputation, mission and/or or interests of the UAA”, University, media rights holder. It is up to the UF president (interim president Kent Fuchs), or athletic director (Scott Stricklin) or the UAA president to determine whether there is a negative effect.

– There is a morals clause in Golden’s agreement in which he must meet “the highest standards of professionalism, competence… personal conduct, ethics, integrity and morality, as these highest standards are determined by the President of the UF or the Chairman of the UAA in consultation with the UF athletics department. The coach’s performance reflects and influences the reputation, mission and interests of the UAA and UF, which the parties recognize are valuable and seek to be protected by the agreement.

Could UF suspend Florida basketball coach Todd Golden under the terms of his deal?

In 2020, the U.S. Department of Education implemented a rule change that prohibits schools from imposing “disciplinary, punitive, or unreasonably burdensome” sanctions during sexual misconduct investigations. One action that the government found could be considered unreasonable was removing a player or coach from a sports team (there are exceptions if the suspect is considered a threat to someone’s health or safety). The change was intended to ensure a fair trial for the suspect.

However, there are clauses in Golden’s contract that give UF the authority to “take disciplinary action, take corrective action and/or terminate this agreement and/or the Activities Agreement and/or impose a suspension on the coach. ”

This authority includes any action that is independent of action taken by law enforcement, a court and/or other government agency, the NCAA, the SEC, and/or any other outside agency. It “has no obligation to await the commencement or conclusion of any external law enforcement agency, court, government, outside agency, NCAA, SEC, other institution of higher education and/or other proceedings, investigations, investigations and/or other actions. “

In other words, Florida would not have to wait for the completion of the Title IX investigation if it wanted to suspend Golden.

To date, Florida has opted not to suspend Golden, who coached UF’s three games. The Gators play at Florida State on Friday night. A UF spokesperson declined to answer questions about why Golden has not been suspended, citing the school’s policy not to comment on ongoing Title IX investigations.

Kevin Brockway is the Florida beat writer for The Gainesville Sun. Contact him at [email protected]. Follow him on X @KevinBrockwayG1