http://www2.tbo.com/content/2010/jan/08/...ead-coach/
USF fires Leavitt, concludes coach hit player
TAMPA - Jim Leavitt's tenure as the only head football coach in University of South Florida history is over.
Leavitt was fired today after an investigation of an allegation that he struck one of his players in the locker room, a "serious violation" of university policies, according to university President Judy Genshaft.
In a letter from athletic director Doug Woolard to Leavitt, the coach was notified he was terminated "for cause" as of noon today.
Leavitt has been under investigation since Dec. 15 for an incident with sophomore walk-on running back Joel Miller. The incident, in which Leavitt reportedly grabbed Miller by the throat and struck him twice in the face, reportedly happened Nov. 21 at halftime of the USF-Louisville game at Raymond James Stadium.
The firing was based on a "preponderance of evidence," USF Vice President Michael Hoad said during the news conference today.
USF interviewers concluded that Leavitt did grab and strike Miller despite strong denials from the coach and player, according to the investigation report.
The conclusion was based on accounts from two other players who saw the incident, including one who said "he knew he had witnessed a crime," and on inconsistencies in the versions of the event given by Leavitt and Miller.
USF interviewers talked to five students they described as witnesses to the incident, including Miller, who told reporters and the investigators that Leavitt did not strike him.
One of the other players who witnessed the incident said he saw Leavitt raise his arm in a way that might have led to a strike, but the player turned away to avoid confronting the coach himself. The fifth player said Leavitt did not strike Miller.
None of the players are identified in the report.
One of the players, described as Athlete B, said "he knew he had witnessed a crime and knew what he saw was wrong. He indicated he felt betrayed and that the values and standards that had been taught to them had been violated."
He described the incident as an "assault" and said he hasn't been able to eat or sleep because of it, according to the report.
Athlete B also said he went to Leavitt afterward about the incident.
Leavitt, describing his own actions, said he "wasn't wrong" and that he had grabbed Miller – described in the report as Athlete A – by the shoulder pads and said only "good, positive things" to him, Student B told the interviewers.
Leavitt also told him he was "fighting for [his] job," and said about Athlete B, "you of all people. You're the last person I would have thought would have come and questioned me."
Reached on his cell phone late this morning before the news conference, a dejected Leavitt was still busy reading the school's official report on the investigation.
"I'm very disappointed," Leavitt said. "I'm in the process of digesting the reported allegations. I deny I did anything inappropriately. I'm just very disappointed. I strongly deny doing anything wrong."
At the news conference, Genshaft said intercollegiate athletics must be seen as a learning environment."
"Our athletes must be treated as students first," she said. "The university exists to create a safe learning environment for its students."
Genshaft said a "swift" national search for a new coach will begin immediately.
Woolard said running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Carl Franks will serve as interim coach during the search. Franks is a former head coach at Duke.
Offensive coordinator Mike Canales said the staff has been told to keep coaching and recruiting, that there will be no other change changes at this time.
The next head coach will be able to name his own staff completely, USF Assistant Director of Athletics Chris Freet said.
Canales said he will apply for the head coaching position.
The list of potential candidates also includes former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who interviewed this week for the opening at Texas Tech, and another former Auburn coach, Terry Bowden, currently head coach at North Alabama.
Other potential candidates include University of Michigan assistant Calvin Magee, who played for the Bucs and is a former USF assistant, and Bucs assistant coach Rich Bissacia.
Florida defensive assistant Dan McCarney and Southern Mississippi coach Larry Fedora, an assistant at Florida under Ron Zook, are also possible candidates.
According to Leavitt's contract, he will be paid 1/12 of his base pay if fired for cause. Leavitt will receive $66,667, 1/12 of his $800,000 salary for 2010, the contract states.
Miller's coach at Wharton High School, David Mitchell, would not comment about Leavitt or allegations. However, he said the move will help USF move on.
"USF has to build a new relationship with every school in Hillsborough County now," Mitchell said. "It'll be a good thing to start over to get that cloud [investigation] from over them.
"I wish the program well because it feeds the Tampa Bay area. Its good economics for the city, when you have Miami coming in with all of there fans or a West Virginia. I would like to see the program keep going."
Mitchell was unsure how the firing would affect USF's recruiting.
"The kids who were influenced to go there [by Leavitt], it'll hurt them," he said. "If there are kids who still want to go to USF, they'll probably still go. Sometimes it's not always the head coach that sells the program, sometimes it's the assistant coaches and the facilities."
Leavitt was hired in December 1995, when he started the football program from scratch, operating out of trailers on campus while guiding the team from Division I-AA to the Big East Conference.
The team began play in 1997 and recently concluded its 13th season with an 8-5 record and a 27-3 victory over Northern Illinois in the International Bowl in Toronto. Leavitt leaves with a record 95-57 and bowl appearances in each season since joining the Big East.
Leavitt's firing comes not long after the Kansas fired Mark Mangino and Texas Tech fired Mike Leech as head coaches for violations involving players.
