Former Ohio State WR Coach Zach Smith Arrested For Violating Civil Protection Order

According to Delaware County Sheriff’s Office records, former Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith was arrested Thursday afternoon for violating a civil protection order.

The news was first reported by Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade, who said Smith “became confrontational with (the) staff at Scioto Ridge Elementary when they did not allow him to pick up his children.”

The civil protection order filed by his ex-wife, Courtney Carano Smith — who was already at the school — prevented him from picking up their children prior to 6 p.m.

“This was not Mr. Smith’s court-ordered parenting time, and the school is not the exchange location,” Carano Smith’s lawyer, Julia L. Leveridge, said in a statement. “School personnel attempted to protect Courtney by placing her in a room away from Mr. Smith … Courtney remains in fear for her safety and the safety and well being of the parties’ children, who are Courtney’s primary concern. It is unfortunate that Mr. Smith chose to violate court orders rather than put the parties’ children first.”

Smith was taken to the Delaware County Jail, booked and charged with a misdemeanor. He was kept overnight and was arraigned at 10 a.m. Friday.

Smith’s lawyer, Brad Koffel, also released a statement on Thursday night. He called the arrest an “absolutely malicious move by (Smith’s) ex-wife to have (him)  arrested at their kids’ school when he was there to pick them up … Just very sad for the children. 100% avoidable by both of them.”

Smith was fired from his role as the Buckeyes’ wide receivers coach by then-head coach Urban Meyer last July when he was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass following a dispute with Carano Smith. He pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in October in connection with said arrest. Smith also signed a consent agreement and domestic violence civil protection order, which prevents him from having contact with Carano Smith for three years.

Meyer, who has since retired, was suspended three games by the university for his mishandling of alleged instances of domestic abuse against Smith.