College Coaching Rumors: USF Fires Coach Jim Leavitt

According to sources at ESPN.com the University of South Florida has fired head coach Jim Leavitt.

Leavitt has been under investigation by the University for a few weeks now. The investigation comes as a result of alligations that Leavitt grabbed and struck special teams player Joel Miller at halftime of the Louisville game in November.

This is the third time in the 2009 season we have seen a coach lose his job due to misconduct with one of his players. Jim Leavitt falls in line with Mark Mangino of Kansas and Mike Leach at Texas Tech who were both fired or let go from their contracts due what essentially was player abuse. The recent firings indicate a shift in way coaches and players interact.

The old school Bear Bryant way of handling things like he did back in Junction Texas, is long gone. Players have rights and they are willing to speak out. The wave of firings this off season proves that not only do players have rights, but in some ways they have the power.

The University of South Florida has already compiled a comprehensive list of possible coaching candidates. Including, Florida defensive line coach Dan McCarney, former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who has strong ties in the state of Florida from his tenure on Miami's coaching staff, and Michigan offensive coordinator Calvin Magee are expected to be candidates to replace Leavitt, a source told ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel.