Ohio University Suspends Football Coach Brian Smith
Ohio University has suspended its football coach, Brian Smith, but the reasons remain unclear.
Brian Smith, the first-year captain, has been placed on paid administrative leave without any details provided. The timing of this decision has left many questioning the circumstances surrounding it. On December 1, the university announced that Smith would be on leave for an “undetermined period.”
The lack of communication from the school has stirred significant speculation among students, leading to stern criticisms about the administration’s handling of the situation. One particularly pointed letter from the editor of the campus newspaper described the silence as “not neutral” and quite “reckless.”
Smith was reportedly asked to leave during the workday without any explanation, according to his attorney, who spoke with a local public radio station on December 2. Notably, the coach led the team to an 8-4 record this season, securing a spot in the Frisco Bowl against UNLV, scheduled for December 23.
His lawyer has denied any wrongdoing, emphasizing that there are no allegations or charges against Smith at this time.
At 45 years old, Smith previously served as an assistant for the Bobcats for three seasons before stepping up as head coach last December when Tim Albin moved on to Charlotte. Interestingly, Smith’s contract wasn’t finalized until the following October, which, while odd, isn’t entirely unheard of in college sports.
Smith’s annual salary is around $850,000, and the contract includes a significant buyout clause of $2.5 million, with December 1 marking a critical deadline. If the university were to fire him without cause before that point, they would owe him the entirety of his contracted salary.
It seems Ohio University may be trying to prevent a costly wrongful termination lawsuit by opting to place Smith on paid leave instead. Additionally, Smith is navigating through divorce proceedings, which just concluded on Tuesday.
However, according to documents from his ex-wife’s attorney, the suspension is unrelated to any personal issues, and her statements confirm that “there is nothing [Smith’s ex-wife] claims to be the cause’’ of this situation at Ohio University. She also stated that she is unaware of the specific issues at hand.
So far, Athens police have reported they have not received any information regarding potential wrongdoing on Smith’s part, leaving many questions unanswered for now. In the interim, the university has appointed defensive coordinator John Hauser as the head coach.
