TAMPA, Fla. — South Florida has confirmed firing football coach Jim Leavitt after an investigation concluded he grabbed one of his players by the throat and slapped him in the face during halftime of a game.

A letter hand delivered to the coach and released along with a report on the three-week probe said Leavitt’s dismissal Friday was based in part on “independently corroborated statements of persons found to be in the best position to observe your conduct.”
Reached by telephone, the only coach in the program’s 13-year history told The Associated Press he was “disappointed” and the allegation was “absolutely false.”
Leavitt, who was 95-57, just completed the second season of a seven-year, $12.6 million contract.
AOL FanHouse first reported the firing.