Ohio University has officially cut ties with head football coach Brian Smith, terminating his contract for cause following an internal review into alleged misconduct.
The university announced the decision on Wednesday, December 17, ending Smith’s short tenure just weeks after he was placed on administrative leave.
In a statement released by the school, Ohio said Smith was dismissed after an investigation found he had violated the terms of his employment agreement. The university cited “serious professional misconduct” and behavior that “reflect[s] unfavorably on the University” as the basis for the termination. No further details about the allegations were disclosed.
Smith had been away from the program since December 1, when Ohio announced he was being placed on leave without providing a public explanation. At the time, defensive coordinator John Hauser was named interim head coach, a role he will continue to hold as the Bobcats prepare for postseason play.
“Today, Ohio University terminated the contract of Head Football Coach Brian Smith for cause,” the university said. “A search for a permanent head coach for Ohio football will begin immediately.”
Despite the upheaval, the Bobcats’ bowl plans remain unchanged. Hauser will lead the team into the 2025 Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl, where Ohio is set to face the UNLV Rebels on December 23.
Smith’s legal team has strongly pushed back on the university’s decision. His attorney, Rex Elliott, said Smith intends to challenge the firing and maintain his reputation.
“We vigorously dispute Ohio University’s grounds for the termination for cause of Coach Brian Smith,” Elliott said in a statement to ESPN. “He is shocked and dismayed by this turn of events, and we plan to fight this wrongful termination to protect his good name.”
Elliott also described Smith as “an ethical man” who had acted in the best interests of the program and its players.
The 45-year-old coach was promoted to head coach last December after Tim Albin departed for the Charlotte job. Smith had signed a five-year deal that ran through the 2029 season. Had he been dismissed without cause, Ohio would have owed him roughly $2.5 million in remaining salary.
Before taking over the Bobcats, Smith joined Ohio’s staff in 2022 following coaching stops at Washington State and Hawai‘i. A former player at Hawai‘i, he suited up as an offensive lineman and long snapper from 1998 to 2001.