Report: Personnel file shows Brian Smith previously violated school policy before Ohio firing

Before Ohio placed former head football coach Brian Smith on leave, he allegedly violated school policy last month, The Athletic’s Justin Williams reported. His personnel file showed a violation of a policy related to alcohol and “other drugs,” per the report.

Smith’s file showed he admitted “on occasion, a few assistant coaches, all over the age of 21, joined him privately in his office after games for a single drink of bourbon” and he received a reprimand Nov. 25, according to The Athletic. Ohio’s school policy states employees cannot be in possession of alcohol and/or drugs in the workplace.

Six days after Smith’s reprimand, Ohio announced he was on administrative leave. The school then announced his firing Wednesday and said it was for cause.

“Today, Ohio University terminated the contract of Head Football Coach Brian Smith for cause,” the school said in a statement. “The termination follows an administrative review of allegations that Smith violated the terms of his employment agreement by engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University. 
 
“Interim head coach John Hauser will continue to lead Ohio University football as the Bobcats take on the University of Nevada Las Vegas Rebels in the 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl on Tuesday, December 23. A search for a permanent head coach for Ohio football will begin immediately.”

In a statement to ESPN, Smith’s attorney Rex Elliott pushed back on the school’s decision to fire him for cause. Elliott vowed they planned to “fight this wrongful termination.”

“We vigorously dispute Ohio University’s grounds for the termination for cause of Coach Brian Smith,” Elliott’s statement read. “He is shocked and dismayed by this turn of events, and we plan to fight this wrongful termination to protect his good name.

“Coach Smith is an ethical man who has done an exemplary job for the University. He wants nothing but the best for the players, coaches and the entire Bobcat community.”

The 2025 season was Smith’s first as Ohio’s head coach, and the Bobcats went 9-4 during the regular season. He was with the program since 2022 when he joined as pass game coordinator before moving up to assistant head coach in 2023.

Last season, Smith became Ohio’s offensive coordinator and succeeded Tim Albin after he left to become the head coach at Charlotte. He took over the Bobcats in the interim for their bowl game last year and earned the full-time role from there.