Yet another college head coach was fired because of a scandal in his personal life, and this time it is Ohio Bobcats head coach Brian Smith. This comes just a week after Michigan fired head coach Sherrone Moore for cheating on his wife with a staffer. However, Smith’s scandal may be raising more eyebrows than Moore’s.
New documents have revealed that Brian Smith broke one of the biggest taboos in the education profession: dating a student. Reports indicated that he and an undergraduate student carried on their affair at an on-campus hotel, the Ohio University Inn. This was soon revealed by one of his players’ parents, and the scandal soon exploded.
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After the scandal exploded within the school, the University of Ohio placed him on leave before finally firing him on Wednesday. The official word on his firing was that he committed “serious professional misconduct.”
University of Ohio president Lori Gonzalez reportedly sent two letters regarding the incident, with the first one dated Dec. 12, and it showed that the school really did intend to fire him. The second letter showed attorney Rex H. Elliot’s response to this. This ultimately led to a third letter, which is the termination notice, which stated that the coach was fired “for cause” because he was dating a student.
Golzalez’s letter stated the following causes for the termination, which also showed that Brian Smith had been dealing with an alcohol problem:
“Participation in extramarital affairs, including one with an undergraduate student, to which you have admitted”
“Repeated use of alcohol in your office, in violation of university policy”
“A public appearance during which you smelled strongly of alcohol and were intoxicated in your demeanor”
Brian Smith Claims He Did Not Know Girl He Was Dating Was University of Ohio Student
As for Brian Smith, he defended himself by arguing that he and his wife were already separated when he began his relationship with a woman, whom he dated for four months. He argued that the divorce proceedings were already ongoing and added that he did not know that she was a student.
Smith added that he had already broken up with her, adding that their relationship was between consenting adults. He also pointed out that the school had no policy that teachers should not have relationships with students.
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