Ohio State Fires Zach Smith

CHICAGO — As more information regarding a domestic violence incident continues to come out, Ohio State announced Monday evening it has fired wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Zach Smith.

“Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer has announced the termination of wide receiver’s coach Zach Smith,” the statement read. “Coaching staff adjustments will be announced at a later date.”

A domestic violence civil protection order was reportedly filed Friday against Smith by his ex-wife, Courtney, who’s 33 years old.

The order was filed two days after Smith appeared in Delaware (Ohio) Municipal Court for a pre-trial hearing on a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing from an incident that occurred on May 12.

Such issues date back to when he was quality control coach for Meyer at Florida in 2009. An incident report from the Gainesville (Fla.) Police Department stated that Smith was arrested early in the morning of June 21 that year for aggravated battery on a pregnant victim. Courtney was three months pregnant at the time.

The Smiths have been divorced since September 2016.

Zach was hired as Ohio State’s wide receivers coach prior to the 2012 season, Meyer’s first campaign in Columbus. Recruiting coordinator was added to Zach’s title in 2015.

In his six seasons at Ohio State, Smith coached five receivers who went on to be selected in the NFL draft – Devin Smith (2015, New York Jets), Michael Thomas (2016, New Orleans Saints), Braxton Miller (2016, Houston Texans), who spent his first four years at Ohio State playing quarterback, Curtis Samuel (2017, Carolina Panthers) and Noah Brown (2017, Dallas Cowboys).

Meyer is set to meet with the media on Tuesday at Big Ten Media Days. His scheduled time begins at 10:30 a.m. ET.

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