Ohio State fires WR coach after domestic violence report

Zach Smith, wide receivers coach, speaks during a press conference to introduce the new assistant football coaches at Ohio State on Thursday, January 12, 2012.

Jonathan Quilter/Columbus Dispatch

Ohio State fired wide receivers coach Zach Smith on Monday after a domestic violence civil protection order was filed against him last Friday by his ex-wife, Courtney Smith.

This 2012 file photo shows Zach Smith addressing players participating in the Northwest Ohio all-star football game. A domestic violence civil protection order was filed against Smith last Friday by his ex-wife.

Smith was served on the same day by the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, court records show.

The news of the filing of the civil protection order was first reported Monday by college football writer Brett McMurphy.

Last week, it was reported that Smith, the grandson of former OSU head coach Earle Bruce, was charged with criminal trespassing after dropping his son off at his ex-wife’s home and not a pre-arranged public place, a violation of a previous criminal trespass warning.

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The civil protection order details a previous domestic violence allegation against Smith.

He was arrested in June, 2009, for aggravated battery on a pregnant victim while he was an assistant coach on Urban Meyer’s staff at Florida. Courtney Smith was 8-10 weeks pregnant at the time of the arrest, but she decided against pressing charges.

The Blade contacted Smith, his attorney, Brad Koffel, and Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith. None responded for comment.

A statement released by Ohio State’s department of athletics Monday night said, “Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has announced the termination of wide receivers coach Zach Smith.”

The 2009 arrest report provided by Gainesville police stated that, subsequent to a verbal argument over infidelity, Smith “grabbed the victim by her T-shirt, picked her up and threw her into the bedroom wall,” an allegation which he told police he denied.

Courtney Smith decided not to press charges a week later.

The 2009 arrest raises questions of why Meyer continued to have Smith on staff. In a lengthy Sports Illustrated profile of Meyer the same year, he said, "Treat women with respect. If you touch a female, I don't want to hear she hit you first."

Smith is due in court for an Aug. 3 hearing at Delaware County Common Pleas Court. The protection order, which doesn’t allow Smith within 500 feet of his ex-wife, says Courtney Smith “is in immediate and present danger of domestic violence and for good cause the following temporary orders are necessary…”

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Smith has a long history with Meyer. He was a walk-on at Bowling Green under Meyer before spending five seasons on the coach’s staff at Florida as a graduate assistant and quality control coach. In all, he’s worked for Meyer-coached teams for 11 seasons. Smith was the only remaining member of Meyer’s original Ohio State staff from 2012. He was paid $340,000, lowest among Ohio State’s 10 assistants. 

The university statement said coaching staff adjustments will be announced at a later date.

Contact Kyle Rowland at krowland@theblade.com, 419-724-6110 or on Twitter @KyleRowland.