A domestic violence civil protection order was reportedly filed against Ohio State assistant coach Zach Smith on Friday, first reported by Brett McMurphy, a former ESPN reporter.
According to McMurphy’s story, the order was filed by Courtney Smith, the ex-wife of the Buckeyes’ wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator. The court records and police reports obtained by McMurphy show a history of domestic abuse allegations made against Zach Smith in the past.
In 2009, Zach Smith, who was an assistant coach at the University of Florida under current Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer at the time, was arrested in Gainesville, Florida, for the aggravated battery of a pregnant female. The police report obtained by The Lantern states that Smith, “grabbed the victim by her t-shirt, picked her up and threw her into a bedroom wall.”
Brad Koffel, Zach Smith’s attorney, acknowledged on 105.7 The Fan that the news sounds bad, but told the radio show the news “just isn’t true.”
“Whatever happened down in Florida between he and his wife was dismissed the very next day or two days, later,” Koffel said. “It’s too bad that this particular ex-husband has a high-profile position at a high-profile program and has to have his dirty laundry aired out in the media.”
Koffel said that the incident involving Smith in 2009 was self defense, saying that he restrained her, she calmed down and then called the police. He said on 105.7 The Fan that Smith was released the next day because the incident was not domestic violence.
A spokesman for the Ohio State football program issued this statement: “We are not going to comment at this time on the situation regarding Zach Smith. This is a personnel matter and we don’t typically discuss such matters publicly. We are continuing to monitor.”
Smith is the last member of Meyer’s original staff at Ohio State and was promoted to become the team’s recruiting coordinator prior to the start of the 2015 season.
Smith is the grandson of former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce.
Updated at 5:55 p.m.: The Lantern has since obtained the police report and heard from Koffel on 105.7 The Fan.
