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Ohio has effectively fired head football coach Brian Smith following an indefinite suspension. The school is doing so with cause following an investigation into wrongdoing.
Smith, meanwhile, is fighting the accusations brought against him by the Bobcats. He believes he is owed his $2.5 million buyout.
Smith just wrapped up his first full season as the program’s leader. After taking over for Tim Albin in last year’s bowl game, he’s posted a respectable 9-4 overall record.
The Bobcats had been preparing for a postseason matchup against UNLV when Smith was mysteriously asked to step away from his post.
The school refused to explain the reasoning. The coach denied any potential allegations.
Brian Smith was suspended.
Rumors claim that administration walked into a regularly schedule coaches meeting and asked everyone to leave. Smith was MIA from then on.
His leave began on December 1st. The coach was subsequently fired on December 17th. Ohio terminated Smith with cause.
Following a review of allegations, it was determined that Smith “violated the terms of his employment agreement by engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University.”
That statement shed light on the coach’s future in Athens. It did not provide reasoning as to why Smith was fired.
Later reports linked the dismissal to a potential booze violation. A contract clause concerning “alcohol and drugs” was referenced.
It seemed minor, but for a short period of time that’s all that those following the situation had to work with.
Since, new details have been released citing an extramarital affair with an Ohio student.
New details reveal ugly battle.
Brian Smith’s attorney addressed the accusations made following the firing. His team plans to fight the “for cause” canning.
In a statement, his lawyer said that Smith was “shocked and dismayed by this turn of events,” and that he was an “ethical man who has done an exemplary job for the university.”
He also attempted to pick apart the Bobcats’ case.
Smith claims that he did not know that the woman he was in a relationship with was a student at Ohio when they met. He says he met her at a local establishment.
He also clarified that she was not a member of the athletics department. He ended the courtship after four months.
Sherrone Moore was fired by Michigan for cause due to an inappropriate relationship with a football staff member. That was not the case with Smith. He was not dating a subordinate.
Furthermore, Smith was nearing the tail end of finalizing his divorce. He was already separated from his now-ex-wife while dating the student.
The relationship was between consenting adults… Ohio University has no policy prohibiting an employee from dating a student.
As for the alcohol use, the head coach refutes the egregious picture the school is attempting to paint.
“It is clear that OU is motivated to go after Coach Smith — without even getting his side of the true facts,” his attorney wrote. “There is zero basis for a ‘for cause’ termination and Coach Smith intends to vigorously pursue litigation should OU continue down this reckless path.”
Smith has a clear and obvious motivation for proving the claims wrong. He is still owed four years on his fully guaranteed five-year contract.
That deal came with a base salary of $615,000 alongside other income and bonuses. It was set to run through 2029.
Ohio would be on the hook for about $2.5 million if Smith wins his battle. He appears to have every intention of doing so.