Former USF Coach Jim Leavitt’s Legal Troubles Raise Questions About Accountability in Sports Leadership

When stateside institutions embrace figures like former University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt, it’s tempting to celebrate their achievements without scrutiny. Yet Leavitt’s recent arrest following an altercation with his ex-girlfriend brings into sharp focus the question of accountability—particularly among those entrusted with shaping young athletes and representing American values on and off the field. Leavitt, at age 68, faces felony grand theft and misdemeanor battery charges after allegedly physically confronting a woman and seizing property valued over $5,000. This incident is far from an isolated case but rather appears to follow a troubling pattern. The same man...