South Florida football coach Jim Leavitt has been fired amid allegations that he hit player Joel Miller at halftime of the team’s game against Louisville last year.

Leavitt was fired by USF President Judy Genshaft in a Friday meeting that also involved athletic director Doug Woolard.

“Very sadly at the end of his tenure, he has committed serious violations of our university policies and codes,” Genshaft said at an afternoon press conference.

“Fair and thorough,” is how Genshaft summarized the investigation.

USF running backs coach Carl Franks, former head coach at Duke, will act as interim head coach.

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Genshaft and Woolard prompted the investigation last month after a report indicated that Leavitt had grabbed Miller, a sophomore, by the throat and hit him in the face twice during halftime of the Louisville game on November 21.

“I’m very disappointed. The allegations as reported are absolutely false,” Leavitt said by telephone. “I’m going to respond in time.”

USF joined the Big East in 2005 and has played in a bowl game every year since joining the league. Leavitt leaves with a record 95-57.

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