A Former Big 12 Assistant and USF Coach Was Just Arrested

Leavitt, who served as defensive coordinator under Bill Snyder at Kansas State before becoming the founding head coach at the University of South Florida, built the Bulls’ program from scratch. He held the position from 1997 through 2009 and compiled a 95–57 record, rising to national prominence, including a No. 2 ranking in 2007.

His departure from USF in 2010 came after a school investigation found that he had physically disciplined a player in the locker room. He was later fired over that incident and allegations that he misled investigators. Still, his contributions to USF football led to his selection for the USF Athletic Hall of Fame class of 2025.

This latest incident compounds Leavitt’s complicated legacy. While he remains known for his foundational role at USF and earlier work alongside Snyder at Kansas State, the criminal charges now overshadow that history. He was briefly involved with programs at SMU, Colorado, Oregon, and Florida Atlantic following his departure from USF, but none have erased the notoriety of this moment.

Leavitt’s arrest raises questions about how his pending legal case may impact the upcoming Hall of Fame induction and whether his reputation will survive the scrutiny of this incident. As the details continue to emerge, the football community will weigh his on-field accomplishments against the severity of the charges he now faces.