Urban Meyer addresses recent firing of wide receivers coach Zach Smith

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer had a weird way of describing why Zach Smith was fired.

During Big 10 Media Day Ohio State Buckeyes head football coach Urban Meyer was questioned about the recent firing of wide receivers coach Zach Smith. Smith, who has been accused of domestic violence dating back to 2009 by his wife, was let go Monday evening by Meyer.

When asked about the timing of the termination, given that this isn’t the first time these allegations have been brought against Smith, Meyer’s comments were somewhat odd.

In 2009, Smith was arrested for aggravated battery against his wife who was pregnant at the time. Meyer said that when he was made aware of the 2009 incident he was told that what was reported was not what happened. Instead of firing Smith then, Meyer decided to keep him on staff.

“To say that (it becoming public) doesn’t have something to do with it, it does a little bit,” Meyer said.

Meyer is referring to the domestic violence civil protection order that was filed by Smith’s wife on July 20th. The order stands for five years and requires that Smith is not allowed to be within 500 feet of his now ex-wife.

Most recently in 2015, as reported by Brett McMurphy, Smith was arrested in Ohio for domestic violence and assault against his then-wife Courtney Smith. Meyer claims that when the 2015 incident was reported, he found nothing.

“I got a text late last night saying that something happened in 2015, and there was nothing. I don’t know who creates a story like that,” Meyer said.

Meyer was aware of the 2009 arrest when it happened, and based on his comments, is implying that because the incident wasn’t made public there was no reason to let Smith go.

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Although Meyer was only made aware of the 2015 incident recently, Meyer admitted that this information becoming public, including the civil protection order, played a role in the firing of Smith.

The most recent incident happened just last month when Smith was charged with misdemeanor trespassing charges by his ex-wife in Columbus, Ohio.

Smith has been on Meyer’s coaching staff for the past 11 years, following him from Florida to Ohio State.