Former USF Coach Faces Serious Charges
Jim Leavitt, the ex-head coach of the University of South Florida (USF) football team, has been charged with serious offenses stemming from an incident involving his former girlfriend, according to police reports.
The 68-year-old Leavitt was taken into custody on Monday after a confrontation occurred in an apartment in St. Petersburg, Florida. Currently, he is facing felony charges for grand larceny, along with misdemeanor charges for domestic battery and simple battery.
Details reveal that during the altercation, Leavitt allegedly grabbed the woman as she tried to escape. He is also accused of stealing a Louis Vuitton wallet and clutch from her, which, combined, are valued at over $5,000, and then refusing to return them. Additionally, reports indicate he pushed a man during the incident.
Leavitt’s legal representation is not publicly listed in any court or prison documents.
In June, USF announced that Leavitt would be inducted into its Sports Hall of Fame during a ceremony on October 2. A statement from USFAthletics noted that they are aware of the situation and are currently gathering information, but they did not confirm if these allegations would impact his upcoming induction.
Leavitt played a pivotal role in establishing USF’s football program in 1997, serving as the first official head coach. He achieved significant success, leading the Bulls to a second-place finish nationally in 2007. He remains the winningest coach in the history of the program, boasting a record of 95-57 over 13 seasons.
His tenure, however, ended in 2010 following an investigation that concluded he had been physically aggressive toward a student-athlete during a game in 2009.
