Ohio: Smith fired over affair with student, drinking

Ohio University pointed to football coach Brian Smith’s romantic involvements, including one he acknowledged with a student, along with an accusation of public drunkenness in a letter announcing its intention to dismiss him for cause.

Smith, who was placed on leave on Dec. 1, was terminated on Wednesday for what the university defined as «serious professional misconduct and engaging in actions that reflect poorly on the University.» The institution did not disclose details on Smith’s wrongdoing prior to Thursday.

In the termination letter, acquired by various media outlets via public records requests, university president Lori Stewart Gonzalez stated that Smith’s «extramarital relationships,» including one with an undergraduate, caused «disrepute, scandal and ridicule,» violating his employment contract with the university.

Gonzalez further indicated that Smith informed athletic director Slade Larscheid that he «conducted an affair» at the Ohio University Inn, where he could be seen by the families of athletes, donors, and others affiliated with the university. Smith was under contract until the 2029 season and had about $2.5 million remaining in salary due.

Rex Elliott, Smith’s lawyer, replied in a letter to Gonzalez, received by media outlets through records requests, asserting that Smith «did not engage in an extramarital affair and you are aware of that.» Elliott also noted that Smith and his spouse separated earlier this year, were amid a divorce, and were living separately during the fall. Smith was residing at the OU Inn while searching for permanent accommodation and mentioned to Larscheid that he encountered athletes’ families there while with a 41-year-old woman he was dating at that time, after ending the relationship with the Ohio student.

Elliott stated that Ohio University lacked a policy forbidding employees from dating students, and that Smith and a student were involved in a «perfectly appropriate consensual adult relationship that did not breach any OU regulation or policy.» He mentioned that Smith and the student dated for around four months until early November, with the student being part of the athletic department.

Elliott also addressed Gonzalez’s mention of a reprimand for Smith regarding alcohol consumption in his office at the university as a justification for his dismissal. Gonzalez stated that the university knew of a public incident where Smith «emitted a strong smell of alcohol» and displayed an «intoxicated demeanor.» Elliott countered that Smith has «never been intoxicated at any OU event» and that the reprimand and a meeting associated with it, which occurred in late November, did not bring up any other issues concerning Smith’s alcohol consumption. He noted that Ohio University serves and promotes alcohol consumption at other university-sponsored events and provided examples of faculty and staff drinking in their offices and other campus locations.

«The reprimand pertained to coaches celebrating in the [football] offices following home victories,» Elliott wrote to Gonzalez. «Ultimately, the coaches were celebrating with Bourbon provided by your husband to Coach Smith in his office.»

In his letter, sent prior to Ohio terminating Smith, Elliott indicated that Smith would «actively pursue» legal action for wrongful termination if Ohio moved forward with dismissing him for cause.

Smith finished his sole season as Ohio’s coach with an 8-4 record, having been elevated to the position from offensive coordinator. He had been part of the football staff since 2022.