Former South Florida coach Jim Leavitt will not attend the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony on Oct. 2.

The school announced in June that Leavitt would be inducted into its hall of fame this fall despite his tumultuous exit. In August, Leavitt was arrested on domestic violence and theft charges after an alleged argument with an ex-girlfriend, but those charges were dropped in September after prosecutors said “the facts and circumstances revealed do not warrant prosecution at this time.”

Advertisement

Per On3, Leavitt will still be inducted into the hall.

“Jim Leavitt and I have had candid and productive conversations the last two days,” USF athletic director Rob Higgins said in a statement.

“We have mutually agreed that he will not attend and/or be recognized at October’s USF Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony.”

“USF acknowledges and appreciates the impact Coach Leavitt had on building USF football and Coach Leavitt understands the importance of USF athletics being able to honor this year’s inductees without distraction.”

Leavitt, 68, was the first head football coach in USF history. He coached the Bulls from 1997 through 2009 and the program went 95-57 in his tenure.

He was fired after the 2009 season following an investigation into his conduct at halftime of a game vs. Louisville during the 2009 season. The school found that Leavitt had struck a player in the locker room, an accusation that Leavitt denied. It also found that Leavitt had interfered with the investigation and contacted witnesses.

Leavitt was the defensive coordinator at Kansas State before he left to start the USF football program. The school moved to the top level of college football in 2000 and was 75-44 at the FBS level during his time in Tampa. USF won at least eight games in each of his last four seasons and went to bowl games in his final five seasons.