Ex-Ohio University Football Coach Sues School Over Firing

The head football coach fired by Ohio University last year amid a relationship with an undergraduate student and claims of drinking in his office is suing the school for wrongful termination. Following a 8–4 season with a bowl game approaching, Ohio University put first-year coach Brian Smith on leave on Dec. 1 without explaining its reasoning to him or the public.

On Dec. 17, the school said it was firing Smith for cause following “an administrative review of allegations 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. ” The next day, the school released public records that listed its alleged issues with Smith.

Among them: extramarital affairs including with an undergraduate student, having an affair at the campus inn where he was seen by a player’s parent, drinking alcohol in his office, and appearing intoxicating and smelling “strongly of alcohol” in public. Smith’s attorney Rex Elliott, said at the time that his client had never been intoxicated at a school event, and that the drinking in his office was for toasting victories with bourbon provided by the university president’s husband. (He also detailed instances of other university staff members drinking in their offices.

) Elliott also said Smith was living at the inn while he was going through a divorce,, and his ex-wife “didn’t accuse him of engaging in an extramarital affair. ” Their divorce was finalized in December. The attorney also noted that school rules didn’t forbid the coach from having a consensual relationship with the undergraduate.