USF and Fired Head Coach Jim Leavitt

[sandgk]

At least he didn't lock them in a closet...

C'mon, everyone knew Leavitt was a crazy man. I'm suprised he's never hit a ref in the face. But why assault a walk-on at halftime?

So, does that leave assaulting players on scholarship outside of game-time up for grabs?

 

[Steve19]

The discussion is about choking people, not chickens.

I was thinking it was lizards?

 

[ScriptOhio]

For "mistreatment of players". Being reported on Sportscenter. I'm sure articles are to follow.

He built that program from the ground up. The pussification of sports continues unabated...

Hey Woody got fired in 1978 for hitting a player. I guess the only difference was it was a player on the other team.

Regardless, like it or not, this is 2010 and "times are a changing". Heck if parents can't paddle their own kids now, why would anyone think a coach could puch out or choke a player?

 

[sandgk]

Hey Woody got fired in 1978 for hitting a player. I guess the only difference was it was a player on the other team.

You read some of the books with Buckeye stories and when they get to Woody there is always one or two about him using a punch in the gut the way ordinary folks use punctuation - for inflection and emphasis.

Regardless, like it or not, this is 2010 and "times are a changing". Heck if parents can't paddle their own kids now, why would anyone think a coach could puch out or choke a player?

Because he's paid to do it

 

[Gatorubet]

 

[Muck]

I was thinking it was lizards?

You leave our secret overlords out of this!

 

[BB73]

CBS

Another witness says Leavitt did not strike player

A person identified as a Florida State Highway Patrol trooper close to former South Florida coach Jim Leavitt says Leavitt did not mistreat former walk-on Joel Miller, according to a document obtained by CBSSports.com.

Leavitt attorney Will Florin says the document contains information that was "suppressed" by South Florida officials after they interviewed the trooper during an investigation into Leavitt's conduct.

A statement signed by what Florin says is Florida Highway Patrol trooper Benny Perez states that at halftime of the Nov. 21 game against Louisville, "Coach Leavitt did not grab Miller's neck nor did he choke or strike Miller."

Leavitt was fired with cause on Jan. 8 following a three-week investigation by the school. Leavitt was released not only for laying hands on Miller but also impeding the subsequent investigation into the matter, the school said.

Perez would be the third person, though, who has said Leavitt did not mistreat the player since the school's investigation began.

A message for a trooper Benny Perez who works out of the Tampa FHP Troop C office was not immediately returned. There is a Benny Perez who worked a security game-day detail protecting Leavitt.

Through a spokesman, South Florida officials had no comment on Perez's statement.

"We stand by our decision regarding Coach Leavitt," the spokesman said.

Perez's latest statement seems to clarify comments he gave to South Florida officials during their investigation into Leavitt. In the 61-page report released last month, Perez' recollections of the Nov. 21 halftime are summarized in a couple of sentences. Perez was in the locker room at the time Leavitt was alleged to have struck and choked Miller. Perez did "recall Leavitt grabbing someone by the collar or jersey during this particular halftime, but he couldn't recall who the player was," according to the report.

In his latest statement Perez says he has "never witnessed [Leavitt] choke or strike any student-athlete." Perez also said that as a law enforcement officer he has investigated a "multitude" of criminal offenses and conducted "hundreds" of investigations and witness interviews.

"If I had seen an assault or battery upon Miller ... I would have had a duty as a law enforcement officer to do something ..." Perez said in the statement. "However, nothing of the sort occurred."

Cont'd ...

 

[BB73]

CBS

South Florida's Miller announces no lawsuit against Leavitt

South Florida player Joel Miller will not file a lawsuit against his fired former coach, Jim Leavitt.

Miller, who the school concluded was mistreated by Leavitt, released a statement Thursday saying he wanted to end "speculation" that he would take legal action against Leavitt. The coach was fired Jan. 8 after a South Florida investigation concluded that not only had Leavitt struck Miller, but also that Leavitt impeded the investigation.

"I am not taking any legal action," Miller said in the statement. "I told the truth because it was the right thing to do, not to make money. I am not the one seeking money over this incident or needing friendly 'witnesses' in pursuit of millions."

CBSSports.com reported last month that Florida state trooper Benny Perez had become the third person to say there was no mistreatment of Miller at halftime of a November game against Louisville.
Miller remains with the team.

"I do not want this past situation to be any kind of distraction for our team, coaches, supporters or me," Miller said. "I am excited about playing for Coach [Skip] Holtz and the direction he is taking us. The atmosphere on this team has never been better."

Lawyers for South Florida and Leavitt met in mediation talks on Feb. 20.

Cont'd ...

 

[BB73]

CBS

Former coach Leavitt sues USF over dismissal

TAMPA, Fla. -- Former University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt has sued the university over his firing.

Leavitt, who was fired in January over claims that he grabbed and player by the throat and struck him in the face, filed the complaint Monday against the USF board of trustees and athletic foundation.

Leavitt denied the accusations and claims in the lawsuit that the university's investigation was flawed and his reputation has been damaged. The action seeks to recover some of the $9.5 million left on his seven-year contract.

A spokeswoman said the school stands by its decision and investigation.

Cont'd ...

 

[BB73]

SI.com

Ex-USF coach Leavitt reaches $2.75M settlement with school

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) -- Former South Florida coach Jim Leavitt will receive $2.75 million in the settlement of a lawsuit he filed against the school after he was fired last January.

The school and Leavitt's attorney, Wil Florin, announced Tuesday night that Leavitt will receive $2 million for salary and benefits. The ex-coach will get an additional $750,000 as acknowledgment for contributions he made in building the Bulls from scratch into a ``nationally respected'' program.

Leavitt was dismissed a year ago after a school investigation concluded he grabbed one of his players by the throat during halftime of a game and slapped him in the face, then lied about it. He was the only head coach in the first 13 years of the program and had just completed the second season of a seven-year, $12.6 million contract.

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Cont'd ... ​

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