Ohio Fires Head Coach Brian Smith for Cause Amid Misconduct Allegations
The Ohio Bobcats are heading into their bowl game with a cloud hanging over the program-and a new interim head coach on the sidelines.
On Wednesday, Ohio University announced that head football coach Brian Smith had been fired for cause, citing what the school called “serious professional misconduct” and behavior that “reflects unfavorably on the University.” The decision ends Smith’s tenure after just one season at the helm.
According to documents obtained by The Columbus Dispatch, the university’s decision stemmed from two key issues: an alleged extramarital affair with an undergraduate student and an incident in which Smith appeared intoxicated at a public event. In a letter dated Dec. 12 from Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez, Smith was accused of conducting the relationship on campus grounds, specifically at the Ohio University Inn. The letter also noted that Smith attended a public appearance where he “smelled strongly of alcohol and appeared intoxicated.”
Smith had been placed on administrative leave back on Dec. 1.
His contract was officially terminated on Dec. 17.
Smith’s attorney, Rex Elliott, has pushed back on the decision, stating that Smith was in the process of divorcing his wife at the time of the relationship and arguing that the university has no formal policy prohibiting relationships between employees and students. Still, the university cited a breach of Smith’s employment agreement, which includes clauses around professional conduct and actions that could damage the school’s reputation.
It’s a stunning fall for a coach who had climbed the Bobcats’ ranks quickly. Smith joined the program in 2022 as the passing game coordinator and running backs coach.
In 2023, he was promoted to associate head coach, and by 2024, he was calling plays as the offensive coordinator. After Tim Albin left to take the head coaching job at Charlotte, the Bobcats handed the reins to Smith for the 2025 season.
On the field, Smith led Ohio to an 8-4 regular season record. While the Bobcats didn’t notch a win against a ranked opponent-the lone matchup being a 37-9 loss to Ohio State-they showed flashes of promise throughout the year.
The team now turns to John Hauser, who will serve as interim head coach for the Frisco Bowl matchup against UNLV on Dec. 23.
It’s a tough time for a program that had been building momentum. Smith’s departure leaves Ohio searching for stability at a moment when they were hoping to build on a solid season. The Frisco Bowl will now serve as both a season finale and a fresh audition-for the players, for Hauser, and for a program suddenly in transition.