Jim Leavitt Fired: USF Football Coach Comes Out Swinging After FanHouse Allegation, Dismissal

By: Ryan Smith
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP PHOTO)

(WTVT)

TAMPA, Fla. (CBS/AP) Jim Leavitt, football coach for the University of South Florida, has come out swinging after being fired for allegedly punching a player, sophomore Joel Miller, in a locker room dispute.

Photo: Jim Leavitt.

The allegation is "absolutely false," Leavitt told the Associated Press. The coach said he was "disappointed" with his dismissal.

USF would not confirm Leavitt's dismissal, but university spokeswoman Lara Wade said all questions would be answered when the school released a report later Friday.

USF president Judy Genshaft and athletic director Doug Woolard launched an investigation into Leavitt last month after a FanHouse report said the coach had grabbed sophomore Joel Miller by the throat and hit him in the face twice during halftime of a game on Nov. 21.

USF beat the Northern Illinois University Huskies 27-3 in the International Bowl at Toronto on Jan. 2.

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by Ellwoodblues January 10, 2010 12:22 AM EST: This is total B.S. leave it to USF to do something stupid like this. Jim Made that football program the success that it is. He started it ran it and it belongs to him.I went to USF..so I tell you straight, if you want to go to "College land' pay a lot of money and get nothing out of it but 4 years of pretending to be a college student, USF will gladly take your money and pretend along with you. USF.."Accent on Earning"; Reply to this comment


by Sportschump January 9, 2010 1:33 PM EST: Who knows what to believe anymore.

Here's my take on the Mangino, Leach and Leavitt firings.

http://sportschump.net/2010/01/09/the-new-%E2%80%98hands-on%E2%80%99-approach-to-coaching-the-unfortunate-cases-of-mark-mangino-mike-leach-and-jim-leavitt/2675/; Reply to this comment