Former USF Coach Jim Leavitt Arrested Florida Grand Theft Battery Charges

Jim Leavitt, the founding head coach of the University of South Florida (USF) football program, was arrested in Pinellas County, Florida, on felony grand theft and misdemeanor battery charges related to an incident involving his ex-girlfriend and another man. Leavitt allegedly grabbed his ex-girlfriend by the arm and took her Louis Vuitton purse, clutch, and wallet valued between $5,000 and $10,000, and also pushed a man at the same apartment complex. Leavitt, 68, was USF's first football coach, leading the Bulls to a 95-57 record and a notable No. 2 national ranking in 2007 before being fired in 2010 for striking a player, an allegation he denied but was corroborated by witnesses. Despite his controversial departure, he was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame in 2025. After USF, Leavitt held several coaching roles including with the NFL's San Francisco 49ers and various collegiate teams. His legal case is pending, and he remains in Pinellas County Jail with a combined bond of $6,000 for some charges and no bond for the domestic battery charge.