Report: Leavitt did strike player; his denials not credible

University of South Florida interviewers concluded that head football coach Jim Leavitt did grab a player's throat and slap him twice on the cheek during halftime of the Bulls game against Louisville on Nov. 21, then lied to investigators about the incident.

The findings are based on accounts from other players who saw the incident, including one who said "he knew he had witnessed a crime," and on inconsistencies in statements by Leavitt and the player he confronted - sophomore walk-on Joel Miller.

USF fired Leavitt today and released a report of its investigation into the incident.

The decision was based on a "preponderance of evidence," USF Vice President Michael Hoad said during a press conference today. It was reached jointly on Thursday night by USF President Judy Genshaft and Athletics Director Doug Woolard, Hoad said.

USF interviewers talked to 21 students, including five students they described as witnesses to the incident, including Miller. They also spoke with strength coach Ron McKeefery and two state troopers who usually escort Leavitt from the field to the locker room during games.

Miller told reporters and the interviewers that Leavitt did not strike him.

The report concludes, however, that Leavitt did make "inappropriate physical contact."

"In the course of Coach Leavitt's travels about the locker room, he approached (Miller), who was seated at his locker. Leavitt yelled at (Miller). Leavitt then placed his hand on the player's throat and slapped him twice on the cheek. These actions were personally observed by several Athletes who had the clearest line of sight to the event."

"Despite Coach Leavitt and (Miller's) denial ... reviewers find it more likely that contact did, in fact, occur to the face and throat/neck area of (Miller). This report was substantiated by multiple reports from credible direct eye witnesses whose recollection was corroborated."

One of the other players who witnessed the incident said he saw Leavitt raise his arm in a way that might have led to a strike, but the player turned away to avoid a confrontation of his own with the coach. The fifth player said Leavitt did not strike Miller.

None of the players are identified in the report.

One of the players, described as Athlete B, said "he knew he had witnessed a crime and knew what he saw was wrong. He indicated he felt betrayed and that the values and standards that had been taught to them had been violated."

He described the incident as an "assault" and said he hasn't been able to eat or sleep because of it, according to the report.

Athlete B also said he went to Leavitt afterward about the incident.

Leavitt, describing his own actions, said he "wasn't wrong" and that he had grabbed Miller - described in the report as Athlete A - by the shoulder pads and said only "good, positive things" to him, Athlete B told the interviewers.

Leavitt also told him he was "fighting for [his] job," and said about Athlete B, "you of all people. You're the last person I would have thought would have come and questioned me."

Leavitt also told reviewers he knelt in front of the seated Miller as he spoke to him, but no other witnesses agreed with that description.

"All accounts described Leavitt as standing on his feet directly in front of (Miller) and speaking in a direct, aggressive and disturbed fashion. Someone in the locker room gasped, causing several other players to turn to see what had happened."

Another player, identified in the report as Student Athlete C, is described as a witness who was in a position to see the incident. He described it as "Leavitt grabbing (Miller) by the throat and striking him twice on the face with an open hand."

The witness described his reaction as disbelief at what had happened.

Student Athlete C told reviewers that the fact Leavitt "flat out lied" in the newspaper was what upset him most.

"Leavitt is a hell of a coach, but he crossed the line," the player is quoted as saying in the report. "It was wrong and he should have stepped up and admitted he was wrong."

Much of the report focuses on comments Miller made to others after the incident, including players, USF coaches and his former coach at Wharton High School.

Several teammates related Miller's account of a meeting he had later with Leavitt , where Leavitt is said to have told Miller to "choose his words wisely," because he, Leavitt, was "the most powerful man in the building."

Both Miller and Leavitt denied the coach said that. Leavitt said the words "aren't in my vocabulary."

Here are other highlights from the findings of the report:

Levitt said he only grabbed Miller's shoulder pads and shook him, but interviewers concluded he "placed his hand on the player's throat and slapped him twice in the cheek. ... This report was substantiated by multiple reports from credible direct eye witnesses whose recollection was corroborated."

Leavitt told interviewers he apologized to Miller for shaking him, but Miller told reporters Leavitt never did because "he had nothing to apologize about."

Asked at the press conference whether USF officials have referred the report to law enforcement agencies, spokesman Hoad said, "That's not for them to decide."

The 30-page report is signed by Sandy Lovins, USF associate vice president for human resources, and Tampa attorney Thomas M. Gonzalez, who acted as an outside consultant in the case. They were appointed by the university Dec. 16 to conduct a review after news of the incident was reported on the sports Web site FanHouse.com.

The report closes with a new development in the case that occurred just this week.

Lovins and Gonzales said they learned that on Monday, after the Bulls returned from a win in the post-season International Bowl in Toronto, an athlete they interviewed reported being "retaliated against by Coach Leavitt for participating in the investigation."

The team equipment manager, according to the report, had been instructed by Leavitt to clean out the athlete's locker.

Upon notification, the report said, the Athletics Department restored the athlete's locker privileges.