COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) – Ohio State has suspended head football coach Urban Meyer for three games for failing to take sufficient management action relating to former assistant coach Zach Smith’s misconduct.
Ohio State announced the decision Wednesday night after an investigation into his handling of accusations of domestic violence made against Zach Smith, a longtime assistant coach.
Smith was accused by his ex-wife, Courtney Smith of physical abuse. Zach Smith was fired last month after she asked a judge for a protective order.
The assistant coach and his ex-wife have said both Gene Smith and Meyer’s wife, Shelley Meyer, an instructor in Ohio State’s nursing school, knew of a 2015 instance of alleged domestic violence.
Ohio State athletic director Gene Smith was also suspended from Aug. 31-Sept. 16.
The Ohio State University athletic director has arrived at the campus building where trustees are meeting to determine the fate of football coach Urban Meyer.
Gene Smith entered Longaberger Alumni House around 5 p.m., almost eight hours after trustees began closed-door deliberations.
The board is meeting with university President Michael V. Drake to consider whether Meyer should be punished for his handling of domestic abuse allegations against a former assistant coach that were raised by the assistant coach’s now ex-wife.
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