jim leavitt fired

South Florida coach Jim Leavitt fired for allegedly striking player, according to reports

South Florida coach Jim Leavitt has been fired for allegedly striking a player during a game this season, according to 2 reports.

Both AOL Fanhouse and ESPN.com are reporting Friday morning that Leavitt has been fired by the university after an investigation into his conduct against special teams player Joel Miller during the Bulls' November game against Louisville.

Leavitt — the only coach that South Florida has had in its 13-year history — was told he was fired in a meeting Friday morning with the university's president Judy Genshaft.

According to Fanhouse, the results of the investigation will be released Friday.

Leavitt's $1.6 million salary made him the second-highest paid coach in the Big East conference, behind only Greg Schiano of Rutgers' $2 million.

The firing of Leavitt for the alleged striking of a player makes him the third coach since the end of the college football regular season to be fired for abusing a player. Kansas' Mark Mangino was bought out of his contract in December after allegations from current and former players for his conduct towards them. Most recently, Mike Leach was fired by Texas Tech after it was discovered that he locked a concussed player in an electrical closet.

South Florida finished the season 8-5 and won the International Bowl over Northern Illinois on Jan. 2.