The attorney for former Ohio University football coach Brian Smith is disputing the university’s characterization of an alleged affair with a student, saying Smith did not know the woman was enrolled at Ohio when they met and ended the relationship months before his firing.
In a Dec. 16 letter sent to Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez, Smith’s lawyer said the woman Smith dated for nearly four months was a nursing student he met off campus at a local Athens establishment. According to the letter, Smith was unaware at the time that the woman was an Ohio student and she was not affiliated with the athletic department.
The lawyer said the relationship involved two consenting adults and that Smith had no ability to influence the woman’s academic standing or employment. No concerns were raised by university officials during the relationship, the letter states.
According to the attorney, Smith ended the relationship in early November, describing the woman as becoming “too emotionally invested.” After breaking off the relationship, Smith began dating a 41-year-old woman, the letter says.
The lawyer also addressed allegations that Smith brought women to the Ohio Inn, which the university cited in its notice of intent to terminate. The letter states Smith was living at the Ohio Inn at the time due to his separation and pending divorce, and that the Inn served as his temporary residence while he searched for permanent housing.
Smith’s attorney disputed claims that the Ohio Inn visits reflected misconduct, saying Smith was residing there legally and that the university’s characterization of the events was misleading.
The letter further argues Ohio University has no policy prohibiting employees from dating adult students, and that similar relationships involving other university employees have not resulted in termination. Smith’s lawyer said labeling the conduct as “serious professional misconduct” is inconsistent with university policy and past practice.
Ohio University has not publicly responded to the specific claims made in the letter. The school has said Smith was terminated for cause following an administrative review, citing conduct it says reflected unfavorably on the institution.
Smith, who led the Bobcats to an 8-4 record in his only season as head coach, has vowed to contest the firing. His attorney said the university’s actions have caused irreparable harm to Smith’s reputation and career.
