Ohio University fired head football coach Brian Smith for violating school's alcohol policy: reports

Ohio University’s termination for origin involving caput shot manager Brian Smith reportedly progressive a usurpation of the school’s argumentation related to "alcohol and different drugs."

Smith’s unit record with the assemblage was obtained by The Athletic, which stated helium met with diversion manager Slade Larscheid and different administrators connected Nov. 24 to sermon an allegation that Smith violated not conscionable the school’s policy, but his declaration arsenic well.

The record had a Nov. 24 missive detailing the meeting, wherever Smith allegedly acknowledged storing intoxicant successful his table drawer, portion besides admitting to the depletion of intoxicant successful his bureau during concern hours.

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Brian Smith of the Ohio Bobcats during the crippled against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights  on Aug. 28, 2025 astatine SHI Stadium successful Piscataway, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)

The missive besides said Smith acknowledged "on occasion, a fewer adjunct coaches, each implicit the property of 21, joined him privately successful his bureau aft games for a azygous portion of bourbon."

According to Ohio University worker argumentation 41.133, it is prohibited to "use, possess, manufacture oregon administer drugs and/alcohol, oregon beryllium nether the power of drugs and/or alcohol, portion successful the workplace oregon successful assemblage vehicles and instrumentality and portion connected duty."

OHIO UNIVERSITY FIRES HEAD FOOTBALL COACH FOR ‘SERIOUS PROFESSIONAL MISCONDUCT’

Smith added that helium and the others who were allegedly progressive were ne'er nether the influence, portion insisting intoxicant did not impact his performance.

"You further acknowledged that you were initially unfamiliar with the argumentation but present recognize its requirements," a missive from Larscheid arsenic a ceremonial reprimand read, per The Athletic. "You affirmed your committedness to comply with assemblage argumentation moving guardant and recognized that consuming oregon storing intoxicant connected assemblage spot is strictly prohibited."

In a connection released by Smith’s attorney, Rex Elliott, connected Wednesday, helium said they "vigorously quality Ohio University’s grounds for the termination for cause."

Head manager Brian Smith of the Ohio Bobcats watches a replay during the 3rd 4th against the Ohio State Buckeyes astatine Ohio Stadium connected Sept. 13, 2025 successful Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

Smith had been connected administrative permission since Dec. 1.

"At the petition of your department, you are placed connected paid administrative permission from your presumption arsenic Head Coach, Men’s Football, pending the result of an probe regarding allegations of inappropriate behaviour and imaginable violations of assemblage argumentation and your employment agreement," a Dec. 1 missive read, confirming Smith being placed connected leave, per The Athletic.

"He is shocked and dismayed by this crook of events, and we program to combat this wrongful termination to support his bully name. Coach Smith is an ethical antheral who has done an exemplary occupation for the University. He wants thing but the champion for the players, coaches, and the full Bobcat community," Elliott’s connection read.

Smith, 45, led the Bobcats to an 8-4 grounds successful his archetypal play arsenic full-time caput manager aft taking implicit for Tim Albin past twelvemonth aft helium moved connected to Charlotte.

The Bobcats named antiaircraft coordinator John Hauser arsenic interim caput manager with the squad scheduled to look the UNLV Rebels in the 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl connected Dec. 23.

Head manager Brian Smith of the Ohio Bobcats arrives astatine Ohio Stadium anterior to the crippled against the Ohio State Buckeyes connected Sept. 13, 2025, successful Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)

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"The termination follows an administrative reappraisal of allegations that Smith violated the presumption of his employment statement by engaging successful superior nonrecreational misconduct and participating successful activities that bespeak unfavorably connected the University," the schoolhouse said successful its connection connected the matter.

"A hunt for a imperishable caput manager for Ohio shot volition statesman immediately," the connection concluded.

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