Sports
Ohio University cites alleged extramarital affairs, one with an undergrad, and alcohol use on campus as cause for firing Head Football Coach Brian Smith
By: Andrew Bowlby
Posted on:
ATHENS, Ohio (WOUB) — Ohio University fired head football coach Brian Smith for alleged extramarital affairs, one with an undergraduate student, and alcohol use on campus, according to documents obtained by WOUB via public record requests.
She wrote that his conduct triggered the section of his employment agreement allowing for termination if “commission of or participation in any act, situation or occurrence that, in the University’s reasonable judgment, brings Head Coach into public disrepute, contempt, scandal or ridicule, or failure by Head Coach to conform their personal conduct to conventional standards of good citizenship with such conduct offending prevailing social mores and values and/or reflecting unfavorably on University’s reputation.”
The first section outlined how alleged extramarital affairs, including one with an undergraduate student, violates this section of Smith’s contract.
(Read the Dec. 12 letter here.)
“In addition, you appear to have admitted to Athletic Director (Slade) Larscheid that you carried on an affair in part on campus at the Ohio University Inn, where you were likely to be observed by OU constituents, such as student-athletes’ families, donors, and alumni, and where you were indeed witnessed by a football player’s parent,” Gonzales wrote. “While it is possible that more related evidence of misconduct may come to light, the facts above establish cause under this Section.”
Smith’s attorney, Rex Elliott, disputed these claims in a written response to Gonzalez sent Dec. 16, stating that Smith did not engage in an extramarital affair.
“Coach Smith and his now ex-wife were separated earlier this year, living apart and divorce proceedings were well underway before he began dating anyone,” Elliott wrote.
(Read Smith’s full response here.)
Elliott claimed Smith was dating the undergraduate student for four months after meeting at “an establishment in Athens.” Smith claims had no knowledge she was an Ohio University student when they met. He also claims the student was not a member of the athletic department and he could not impact her status using his position.
Without any input from anyone at the university, Smith claims to have ended the relationship in early November.
Elliott went on to write that the university has no policy prohibiting employees from dating students.
“If OU wants to prohibit employees from dating students, it should have a policy making this clear. The fact that it doesn’t makes clear that OU has no problem with employees dating students,” Elliott wrote.
The university has a policy addressing consensual relationships, however it appears to apply only to relationships in which “one party retains a direct supervisory or evaluative role over the other party.” The policy also says the university “does not intrude upon private choices regarding personal relationships when these relationships do not violate university’s policies.”
Elliott also claims Smith did not admit to having an affair to Larscheid, but that Smith told Larscheid he ran into parents with a 41-year-old woman at the OU Inn, where he was living “following his separation and divorce.” Smith had been spending time with the 41-year-old after breaking off his relationship with the undergraduate student.
The second reason Gonzalez cited for termination was the “use or consumption by Head Coach of alcoholic beverages as to impair Head Coach’s ability to perform Head Coach duties.”
Gonzalez wrote that Smith had been previously reprimanded for repeated use of alcohol in his office, violating Employee Policy 41.133.
The notice alleges that Smith drank alcohol in his office with staff members who report to him. It further alleges that Smith made a public appearance where he smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared intoxicated.
Gonzalez’s letter finished by saying Smith’s conduct broke the expectations set by his contract.
“Head Coach shall represent University positively in public and private forums and will not engage in conduct that reflects adversely on University or its athletic programs,” she wrote.
Elliot countered these accusations by writing that they have “no relationship to the truth,” claiming Smith has never been inebriated at an OU event and alcohol is “not prominent in Coach Smith’s life,” and “coaches were toasting with Bourbon provided by your husband to Coach Smith in his office.”
He also noted that “OU serves and encourages alcohol use at University sponsored events, including in the President’s and AD Suites at OU Football games,” and highlighted a time Smith was with the associate athletic director in the office of a “distinguished faculty member” and they all shared a glass of bourbon in the professor’s office.
Elliott concluded his written response by claiming the school is “motivated to go after Coach Smith without getting his side of the true facts.”
He also said they were willing to work with the university to avoid a “very public battle” that would take place if the university moved ahead with terminating Smith’s contract.
In a response sent by Gonzalez on Dec. 17, she wrote that she considered Smith’s response but “Notwithstanding the assertions and arguments articulated in this letter, Ohio University has ample cause to terminate” Smith’s contract.
(Read Smith’s termination letter here.)
This is a breaking story and any additional information will be added as it comes in.