Even by the lofty standards of a program with two national championships this century, the 2024-25 season has been among the best in Florida basketball history.

From their first game in early November, the Gators have been a juggernaut. They’ve racked up a 34-4 record, putting them two victories shy of tying a single-season program record. Behind a well-balanced, carefully-constructed and analytically-minded roster headlined by All-American guard Walter Clayton Jr., they won the SEC Tournament and earned a No. 1 seed to the NCAA Tournament, where they’ll be appearing in the Final Four for the first time in 11 years.

Behind that rise has been Todd Golden, Florida’s 39-year-old wunderkind coach who has improved the program’s fortunes in his three seasons at the helm. On Saturday at the Alamodome in San Antonio, he’ll become just the 13th man since the NCAA Tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to coach a Division I men’s basketball team in the Final Four before his 40th birthday.

A season that has brought so many achievements and breakthroughs, though, began mired in uncertainty and controversy.

Last November, two games into the Gators’ season, it was revealed that the university had received a formal Title IX complaint about Golden in September that accused him of sexually harassing and stalking an unidentified number of women, including multiple Florida students.

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Nearly three months later, Florida closed the investigation and cited a lack of evidence. But as the Gators have run through the NCAA Tournament and established themselves as one of the best teams in the sport, the case has been commonly cited whenever mentioning Golden or detailing his time in Gainesville.

Heading into Florida’s game Saturday night against Auburn, here’s a closer look at the Title IX investigation into Golden:

Todd Golden allegations

On Nov. 8, several outlets — including the Gainesville Sun — reported that a complaint had been filed with Florida’s Title IX office on Sept. 27 accusing Golden of sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, stalking and cyberstalking. Golden’s alleged behavior was directed at multiple Florida students over the preceding 12 months, according to the complaint, which sometimes occurred while he was on the job and put the Gators’ coach in potential violation of the university’s Gender Equity Policy.

Among other claims, the complaint alleged Golden initiated unwanted sexual advances on Instagram, requested sexual favors, sent photos and videos of his genitalia, took photos of women walking or driving and sent the pictures to the women involved, and showed up to locations where he knew the women would be.

Golden, a married father of two, released a statement on Nov. 9 acknowledging that he had “actively participated in and respected the confidentiality of an ongoing school inquiry” and was considering “defamation claims.” He coached Florida in its Nov. 11 win against Grambling State and has remained on the sideline throughout the season.

Todd Golden Title IX investigation

On Jan. 27, Florida announced it had closed its probe into Golden, noting it had found “no evidence” that the third-year coach had violated Title IX after a “thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews.”

According to a letter obtained by ESPN, Florida’s Title IX coordinator determined there was no evidence that Golden’s alleged sexual harassment “occurred within a university program or activity,” which is why the school dismissed the complaint. Karen Truszkowski, an attorney who represented a 21-year-old college student who did not attend Florida, said there was “certainly evidence that there was questionable activity that occurred” while Golden was participating in a university event, even if his alleged actions may not have fallen under the definition of Title IX.

Golden’s attorney, William Shepherd, said in a letter that “the University’s conclusion proves that the complaint was meritless.”

“The last several months have been a challenge for me and my family as the process has dragged on,” Golden said in a statement. “We asked the public to allow the process to work through its conclusion and not rush to judgment based on allegation. The UAA and so many from the University have been tremendously supportive ― my family and I are extremely grateful.”

Todd Golden attorney statement

When the Title IX complaint against Golden was dismissed in January, Shepherd, Golden’s attorney, released the following statement:

The University of Florida informed me that the Title IX investigation into Coach Todd Golden has finally been dismissed. This investigation has found no evidence to support the allegations against Coach Golden. The University’s conclusion proves that the complaint was meritless.

Coach Golden and I have respected the process throughout while actively engaging with the University. However, there were many who did not respect the investigative process. Instead, they sought to target Coach Golden and drive their agenda and this investigation for their own self-interest. Some leaked confidential material to the media; falsely posed as a UF lawyer in an effort to intimidate; harassed UF students and parents to try to generate a false narrative; and harassed my client, his family, and his friends.

Coach Golden appreciates the support he and his program have received from so many at the University and from around the country. Now that this is concluded, Coach can continue to focus on the basketball season and consider his legal options in the off season — but now it’s time to move forward.

Taurean Green Title IX investigation

On Jan. 16, as the investigation into the complaint against Golden was ongoing, ESPN reported that a Florida athletic department employee filed a sexual assault complaint against player development coach Taurean Green, a guard on the Gators’ 2006 and 2007 national championship teams.

In March 2024, the woman, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, reported to Florida’s Title IX office that Green had kissed her and tried to put his hand down her pants in a meeting that he arranged with her in the school’s athletic facilities. She pulled his hand away and said no, but Green tried again before the woman was able to get away, according to the complaint. She told ESPN she had never previously been alone with Green and had only “exchanged casual greetings” with him on campus.

Green has continued coaching with the team during the investigation, which remains open.

“I simply want to say I support my staff and would implore people not to rush to judgment based off headlines,” Golden said the day after the allegations against Green became public. “I think for me I’m really just frustrated and disappointed that a Title IX mechanism that is created is protect both sides during a situation like this with confidentiality and privacy continues to be abused.

“As frustrating and as disappointing and as hard as it is to do, I’m going to do what I need to do and continue to respect the process as I have and as always continue to respect and appreciate the support for myself, my family and my program during this time.”