Ohio Fires Head Coach Brian Smith Citing “Serious Professional Misconduct”
In a stunning development just days before the Frisco Bowl, Ohio University has fired head football coach Brian Smith for what the school is calling “serious professional misconduct.” The decision comes after Smith had been placed on indefinite leave back on Dec.
- Following an internal administrative review, the university announced Wednesday that it had terminated Smith’s contract for cause, citing conduct that “reflects unfavorably” on the institution.
No further details were released.
Smith’s attorney, Rex Elliott, pushed back strongly against the university’s decision, calling the termination “wrongful” and promising a legal fight to defend Smith’s reputation.
“He is shocked and dismayed by this turn of events,” Elliott said in a statement. “Coach Smith is an ethical man who has done an exemplary job for the University. He wants nothing but the best for the players, coaches, and the entire Bobcat community.”
Smith’s tenure in Athens was brief but impactful. The 45-year-old was promoted to head coach on Dec. 18, 2024, following Tim Albin’s departure to take over at Charlotte.
Smith had steadily climbed the ranks at Ohio, arriving in 2022 as the running backs coach and passing game coordinator. He was elevated to associate head coach in 2023 and took over offensive coordinator duties in 2024 before landing the top job.
In his lone season at the helm, Smith led the Bobcats to a 9-4 record, including a Cure Bowl victory over Jacksonville State. Perhaps more notably, Ohio secured a 17-10 win over West Virginia earlier this season - a statement win that helped solidify the program’s upward trajectory under Smith’s leadership.
With Smith out, defensive coordinator John Hauser will step in as interim head coach for the Frisco Bowl on Dec. 23 against UNLV. Hauser now has the task of rallying a team that’s not only preparing for a postseason game but also navigating the emotional fallout of a coaching change.
Meanwhile, the university has already begun its search for a permanent replacement.
There’s no question this is a sudden and dramatic shift for a program that had been gaining momentum. Smith’s firing leaves plenty of questions - not only about what led to the decision, but also about where Ohio turns next as it looks to maintain stability and build on recent success. For now, the focus shifts to Hauser, the Frisco Bowl, and a Bobcats squad trying to stay locked in amid major turbulence.