The University of Florida has cleared men’s basketball coach Todd Golden following a four-month Title IX investigation into allegations of sexual exploitation, sexual harassment and stalking.

The school released a statement Monday saying no evidence was found and it ended its investigation. It comes amid No. 5 Florida’s best season in a decade, with the Gators winning 18 of their first 20 games.

“The University of Florida takes these matters seriously and works deliberately to ensure that due process is upheld for everyone,” university spokesman Steve Orlando said in a statement. “After a thorough investigation that included dozens of interviews over the past months, the University of Florida has found no evidence that Todd Golden violated Title IX. The Title IX office has closed its investigation.”

Golden, a former head coach for the University of San Francisco, previously sidestepped chances to deny the allegations “out of the respect to the process” and threatened legal action, presumably against his accusers, who weren’t publicly named.

He also recently ripped proceedings that are supposed to be confidential.

“I am just frustrated and disappointed that a Title IX mechanism that is created to protect both sides during a situation like this — that confidentiality and privacy continues to be abused,” Golden said earlier this month after assistant coach Taurean Green was accused of sexual assault in another Title IX case.

The complaint against Golden accused him of sending photos and videos of his genitalia, making unwanted sexual advances on Instagram and requesting sexual favors. The Independent Florida Alligator first reported the allegations in early November.

Golden’s attorney, William Shepherd, said the university’s conclusion “proves that the complaint was meritless.”

Shepherd added that Golden will consider legal options in the offseason.

The school’s University Athletic Association supported Golden throughout the investigation and backed his confidentiality comment following the case’s dismissal.

Auburn a unanimous No. 1 again >> Auburn keeps winning games that come down to the wire. It’s kept them on top of the AP Top 25, too.

The Tigers were the unanimous choice atop the men’s college basketball poll for the second consecutive week, getting all 62 votes from the national media panel. Their place at No. 1 was solidified when Miles Kelly hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 30 seconds left to propel Auburn to a 53-51 victory over then-No. 6 Tennessee over the weekend.

The Tigers led a top five that was unchanged from the previous week. Duke remained No. 2 followed by Iowa State, Alabama and Florida, which rallied to beat South Carolina early in the week before a resounding victory over Georgia.

Track and field

Spectator killed by stray hammer thrown >> An errant weight thrown by a competitor struck and killed a spectator at a youth track and field meet in Colorado, according to officials at the university where the competition was held.

The hammer in the hammer throw event cleared certified barriers before striking the man Sunday morning at the University of Colorado’s Colorado Springs campus, according to a university statement.

Firefighters pronounced the man dead at the scene. He apparently had tried to shield his wife and son from the ball, KRDO-TV reported. The so-called hammer in the hammer throw event is actually a heavy ball on a chain.

Authorities did not identify the athlete or the man killed. He was the father of a competitor for the Colorado United Track Club that hosted the event for high school-age athletes from around the state, according to the station.

The weight used in the hammer throw event weighs 16 pounds (7 kilograms) for men and 9 pounds (4 kilograms) for women in adult competition.

MLB

Cubs near deal for Astros’ Pressly >> The Chicago Cubs are finalizing a trade for Ryan Pressly, adding the right-hander to the back end of their bullpen in their second major offseason deal with the Houston Astros.

Pressly has agreed to waive his no-trade clause, according to a person familiar with the situation, and there is an agreement in place between the teams, pending a review of medical records.

Pressly had the right to block the deal because of his 12 years in the majors and six-plus seasons with the Astros. He had a 3.49 ERA in 59 appearances last year while serving as a setup man for Josh Hader.

Porter Hodge had a 1.88 ERA and nine saves during an impressive rookie year with Chicago, but he likely slides into a setup role with Pressly’s arrival.

Pressly is slated to make $14 million in the last year of his contract. Houston could make a renewed push to re-sign free agent third baseman Alex Bregman.

Ex-Cardinal Carlson joins Orioles >> The Baltimore Orioles agreed to terms with Dylan Carlson on a $975,000, one-year contract, a couple of months after the outfielder was non-tendered by the Tampa Bay Rays.

Carlson hit .209 with three home runs and 25 RBIs in 96 games for the Cardinals and Rays in 2024.

Women’s basketball

Vanderbilt back in Top 25 >> Vanderbilt entered the AP women’s Top 25 at No. 23, its first ranking since 2014, while Texas returned to the top five and Ohio State and Duke both jumped back into the top 10.

The top four teams remained the same as UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame and USC all avoided upsets last week. The Bruins got 31 first-place ballots from the 32-member national media panel after winning their three games on an East Coast trip. They beat then-No. 25 Baylor, Rutgers and formerly No. 8 Maryland.