Despite multiple claims to the contrary at Big Ten Media Days last month, Ohio State University football coach Urban Meyer reportedly knew of domestic abuse allegations made against former wide receivers coach Zach Smith in 2015.
College football insider Brett McMurphy reportedly obtained a chain of text messages between Courtney Smith, the dismissed assistant’s ex-wife, and Meyer’s wife Shelley, as well as the wives of other Ohio State coaches.
Courtney Smith told McMurphy, “All the wives knew. They all did. Every, single one.
“Shelley said she was going to have to tell Urban. I said, ‘That’s fine, you should tell Urban.’ I know Shelley did everything she could.”
Courtney Smith told McMurphy that in 2015, Smith “took me and shoved me up against the wall, with his hands around my neck. Something he did very often. My (then 3-year-old) daughter was clinging to my leg. It obviously registered with him what he was doing, so he took my (then 5-year-old) son and left. So I called the police.”
Smith was fired from Meyer’s coaching staff in July after being charged with criminal trespassing for dropping off his children at Courtney Smith’s house, which was a violation of their agreement to meet at a public place for safety reasons.
The 2015 incident was the latest in a string of domestic situations Smith was involved in, but he was never charged. Despite the incident, Smith was retained by the Buckeyes, and previously, the University of Florida, where he served as an assistant coach for Meyer and the Gators.
Meyer took over the Ohio State program in 2012 and compiled a 73-8 record (.901 winning percentage) over his first six years with the Buckeyes. He has won at least 11 games in each of his first six years in Columbus and made five bowl appearances.
Meyer is 3-2 in bowl games with the Buckeyes, including wins over the top-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide (Sugar Bowl) and the Oregon Ducks on the way to the first-ever College Football Playoff National Championship following the 2014 season.