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An attorney for fired Ohio University head football coach Brian Smith disputed the school’s claim that his client participated in extramarital affairs with an undergraduate student — and noted that his relationship was allowed under the school’s policy, according to Front Office Sports.
The university placed Smith on leave on Dec. 1 and fired him Wednesday, as University president Lori Gonzalez explained multiple reasons the first-year coach triggered a for-cause firing in a documentation obtained by the outlet.
In response, Smith’s attorney Rex H. Elliott wrote Tuesday, “Coach Smith didn’t participate in an extramarital affair and you know it,” adding that the coach and his wife had been separated since earlier this year.
The two finalized their divorce earlier this month.
“Coach Smith did not hide the relationship, and even his now ex-wife didn’t accuse him of engaging in an extramarital affair.”
Elliott said Smith and the woman met “at an establishment in Athens” and he didn’t know she attended the university.
He added that they were “perfectly appropriate consensual adult relationship” for nearly four months before Smith ended things in November.
Elliott said that the woman did not work in the athletic department.
The letter says the university does not have a policy barring employees from dating students.
In a termination letter, Gonzalez claimed Smith admitted to athletic director Slade Larscheid that he “carried on an affair” at the on-campus Ohio University Inn — where he was seen by a parent of one of his players.
Elliott said that claim is misleading because Smith was living at the inn after separating from his wife, and that Smith told Larscheid the parent saw him with a 41-year-old woman he was dating after the student.
In a notice letter of Smith’s firing, Gonzalez said the coach admitted to having a relationship with an undergraduate student; had repeated use of alcohol in his office in violation of university policy; and smelled strongly of alcohol during a public appearance and was intoxicated in his demeanor.
In response to Gonzalez’s claim of alcohol use in Smith’s office, Elliott said that OU coaches were toasting victories after home wins “with Bourbon provided by your husband to Coach Smith in his office.”
Elliott added, “Coach Smith has never been inebriated at an OU event.”
Gonzalez said she “reviewed and considered” Elliott’s response, but the university still “has ample cause” to fire the coach, according to Front Office Sports.
Smith led the Bobcats to an 8-4 record this season.
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