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After weeks of questions about why Ohio Bobcats football coach Brian Smith was placed on administrative leave, the school cited an extramarital affair as one of the reasons he was officially fired as head coach for cause.
On Dec. 1, the school placed Smith on leave, after the athletic director came to a meeting the coach was having with assistants and told him he had to go home. On Nov. 24, school officials met with Brian Smith to discuss an allegation that he knowingly violated university policy by having alcohol in his office.
According to a filing obtained by The Athletic, Smith said he would have celebratory drinks with his assistants after wins, which is why there was alcohol inside the football building.
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Brian Smith of the Ohio Bobcats during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on August 28, 2025 at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
This may not seem like such a big deal to most, but school officials didn’t feel the same way. Ohio athletic director Slade Larscheid filed a formal complaint with Brian Smith on Nov. 25, stating that any further rule violations would result in his termination.
He had been on leave since December 1st. Now, further details have been released.
BRIAN SMITH, HEAD FOOTBALL COACH, LIMITED BY UNIVERSITY OF OHIO FOR VIOLATION OF SCHOOL ALCOHOL POLICY: REPORTS
OHIO ALLEGES IT WAS NOT JUST ALCOHOL, ALSO AN AFFAIR WITH A STUDENT
On December 12, Ohio Speaker Lori Gonzalez sent a letter to Brian Smith, as well as his attorney, detailing the reasons for his termination. In the letter, which was first reported by Front Office Sports and confirmed by OutKick, Gonzalez explained why Smith was fired “for cause.”
Head coach Brian Smith of the Ohio Bobcats arrives at Ohio Stadium before the game against the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 13, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. (Jason Mowry/Getty Images)
It is alleged that Brian Smith’s “participation in extramural affairs, including one with an undergraduate student, to which you admitted” was one of the reasons the former head coach was fired.
Additionally, the former Ohio coach allegedly consumed alcohol on several occasions in his office, while making a public appearance where he smelled of alcohol, while being “intoxicated in his behavior.”
In his defense, Smith’s attorney said the former coach made no secret of his relationship, which he said began after the coach and his wife had already begun divorce proceedings. Furthermore, the lawyer did not deny that the former head coach had a relationship with a student.
The 45-year-old had just completed his first season as head coach at Ohio, where he led the Bobcats to an 8-4 record, with a bowl game against UNLV on Dec. 23.
Brian Smith of the Ohio Bobcats during the game against the Rutgers Scarlet Knights on August 28, 2025 at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire)
Given that Brian Smith’s attorney claims the school knew about the extramarital affair, I would expect the fight to continue for his reputation, as well as the money he is owed under his contract.
