ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Former University of South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt, 68, was arrested on August 25 and charged with grand theft and battery following an alleged altercation involving his ex-girlfriend, according to police records.
The St. Petersburg Police Department report states that Leavitt allegedly grabbed the woman’s arm as she tried to walk away and took her Louis Vuitton purse, clutch, and wallet, valued at over $5,000. He’s also accused of pushing another man in the chest during the same incident.
Leavitt was charged with:
One felony count of grand theft
Two misdemeanor counts: simple battery and domestic battery
He was released from Pinellas County Jail the following day.
Leavitt’s attorney, Lucas Fleming, described the incident as a “misunderstanding” and said Leavitt “believes he did nothing wrong.”
A legend in USF football, Leavitt was the program’s first head coach, leading the Bulls from 1997–2009 and earning a 95-57 record, the best in school history. His teams appeared in five straight bowl games and peaked at No. 2 in national rankings in 2007.
After leaving USF, Leavitt worked as a linebackers coach with the San Francisco 49ers, helping them to a Super Bowl appearance. He later returned to college football in defensive coordinator roles, most recently at SMU in 2021.
In 2025, he was inducted into the USF Athletic Hall of Fame.
