Ohio University football coach Brian Smith has been dismissed for what the school is calling ‘serious professional misconduct.’
The 45-year-old Smith was placed on leave for undisclosed reasons at the start of the month. Wednesday’s statement did not shed any light on the circumstances of his dismissal, but a school spokesman said Smith was the subject of an investigation.
‘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,’ read the school statement.
Interim head coach John Hauser will remain in place as the 8-4 Bobcats prepare for the December 23 Frisco Bowl against UNLV.
Smith’s bizarre dismissal follows a similarly mysterious firing in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where football coach Sherrone Moore was let last week for an allegedly inappropriate relationship with a staff member. Hours later, the married father of three was arrested in a church parking lot after allegedly going to his executive assistant’s home and threatening to harm himself with a butter knife and scissors.
Moore was charged with breaking and entering, home invasion and stalking at his arraignment Friday before being released on a $25,000 bond.
MORE TO FOLLOW…
Ohio University football coach Brian Smith has been dismissed for what the school is calling ‘serious professional misconduct.’ The specific allegations against Smith aren’t yet public
Former Wolverines head coach Sherrone Moore was fired by Michigan after allegedly having an ‘inappropriate relationship’ with a staffer before being arrested for an alleged assault
