The Jim Leavitt arrest in Florida on Monday involved former USF football coach Jim Leavitt, who faces felony grand theft and misdemeanor domestic battery charges following an alleged altercation with an ex-girlfriend.
Details Surrounding the Jim Leavitt Arrest
Jim Leavitt, 68, faces a felony count of grand theft and two misdemeanor charges of simple battery and domestic battery. He is accused of grabbing his ex-girlfriend by the arm during an altercation and taking her Louis Vuitton purse, clutch, and wallet.
The value of the allegedly stolen items was over $5,000.
The former USF coach arrested is also accused of pushing another man in the chest during the incident. Leavitt was booked into jail and released the following day.
Attorney Calls Charges a Misunderstanding
Leavitt’s attorney, Lucas Fleming, described the situation as a “misunderstanding.” Fleming stated that Leavitt “believes he did nothing wrong in this situation.“
Fleming added it’s a “misunderstanding that we hope will be resolved in a favorable way for Mr. Leavitt at some time when we have the ability to make these comments and arguments to the State Attorney’s Office.“
Leavitt’s Celebrated History at USF
Leavitt was the first football coach for the University of South Florida when the program debuted in 1997. He coached for 13 seasons and remains the winningest coach in program history with a 95-57 record.
Under his leadership, USF achieved a No. 2 national ranking in 2007 and made five consecutive bowl appearances from 2005 to 2009.
Leavitt was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame this year.
Past Controversies and Post-USF Roles
USF fired Leavitt in 2010 after an investigation determined he struck a player. Following his dismissal, he served as a linebackers coach for the San Francisco 49ers from 2011 to 2014.
He later returned to college football as a defensive coordinator for multiple programs, including Colorado, Oregon, and FAU. His most recent coaching position was at SMU in 2021.
