Former Ohio head coach fired over relationship with undergrad student, per report
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Former Ohio head football coach Brian Smith was fired by the school earlier this week in part due to a relationship with an undergraduate student at the school, according to a report from Front Office Sports.
Smith was placed on leave on Dec. 1 and officially fired for cause on Wednesday. He led the Bobcats to an 8-4 record in his first season with the program.
According to the report from FOS, a letter from university president Lori Gonzalez to Smith and his attorney, dated Dec. 12, alleged that Smith had repeatedly violated school policy by drinking in his office and “smelled strongly of alcohol” during an unspecified public appearance.
It also alleged that Smith had “extramarital affairs, including one with an undergraduate student.” Gonzalez claimed in the letter that Smith admitted to the relationship with the student, per FOS.
A letter sent from Smith’s attorney back to the school claimed that Smith and his wife had been separated “since earlier this year” and finalized their divorce earlier this month.
According to FOS, Smith’s attorney claimed that Smith did not know the student attended Ohio University when they began what the attorney called a “perfectly appropriate consensual adult relationship.” Smith’s attorney also claimed the school has no policy that forbids employees from dating students.
Gonzalez said in her letter to the former coach that the relationship triggered clauses in Smith’s contract that refer to a potential firing for any “disrepute, scandal, and ridicule” that reflect poorly on the school.
Smith plans to pursue litigation against the school, according to the report.
Ohio plays UNLV in the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 23.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
