TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — Former University of South Florida coach Jim Leavitt will not be recognized at the school's athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony, officials announced Friday.

In a statement, Rob Higgins, the newly selected CEO of Athletics at USF, said he and Leavitt had several "candid and productive conservations" and "mutually agreed" that Leavitt would not attend nor be recognized at the Oct. 2 ceremony.

"USF acknowledges and appreciates the impact Coach Leavitt had on building USF Football and Coach Leavitt understands the importance of USF Athletics being able to honor this year's inductees without distraction," Higgins wrote.

The university's initial announcement saying that Leavitt would be inducted into the USF Athletics Hall of Fame came just a few months before Leavi

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