South Florida's Jim Leavitt Accused of Striking Player

Mark Mangino did it and today he's no longer the football coach at Kansas.

Brett McMurphy, former USF beat writer for the Tampa Tribune who covered the University of South Florida football program since its inception, says Jim Leavitt did it and has eyewitness accounts of the incident.

On Monday, McMurphy, who covers college football for AOL Fanhouse , broke the story that accused Leavitt of grabbing walk-on player Joel Miller by the throat at half-time of the Bulls game against Louisville on Nov. 21. McMurphy's story details that Leavitt then hit Miller twice in the face.

McMurphy got a first-hand account of the incident from staff members and players who talked on the condition of anonymity because they feared retribution by Leavitt.

"According to the five witnesses, University of South Florida players and staff members, Leavitt was pacing in the Raymond James locker room at half-time when he walked about 10 feet to the locker where Miller was sitting without his helmet. Leavitt then grabbed Miller by the throat and hit him twice in the face with his hand," McMurphy wrote in his story. 

McMurphy wrote that he called Leavitt via cell phone and got the following response from the USF head coach.

"Things that happen or don't happen usually are kept within the team—whether they happen or don't happen," Leavitt told McMurphy.

There has been no comment from USF Athletic Director Doug Woolard or University President Judy Genshaft.

Associate Athletic Director Chris Freet did not handle the statement from the school, instead, it came from higher up—university spokesman Michael Hoad said:

"The University of South Florida is aware of the story and will review the matter promptly. We're committed to ensuring due process for everyone involved. To ensure fairness, the university doesn't comment during a review."

Last month, Mangino was fired from his job at Kansas for allegedly striking players. Leavitt and Mangino worked together as assistant coaches at Kansas State from 1991-1995.

McMurphy also interviewed David Miller of Tampa's Wharton High School, who was Miller's coach. Miller told McMurphy he urged Miller to go public with his story so that it doesn't happen to another player at USF.