Ohio State Board of Trustees Forms Group to Investigate Urban Meyer

Urban Meyer
UPI Photo/Art Foxall

The Ohio State University announced this week that its Board of Trustees has formed an independent group to investigate the claims that Urban Meyer was aware of domestic violence allegations against an assistant football coach.

The Ohio State University Board of Trustees announced this week that they have formed an independent group to investigate claims that football coach Urban Meyer knew about domestic abuse allegations against former wide receivers coach Zach Smith.

“The special working group will direct the work of the investigative team and be available to provide consultation and advice and assist with communication to the full board on the matter,” the board said in a statement.

Meyer, who has been placed on paid leave during the investigation, was allegedly in the know about abuse allegations against former assistant coach Zach Smith. Smith’s ex-wife, Courtney Smith, allegedly told Urban Meyer’s wife about the abuse in October 2015.

“Shelley said she was going to have to tell Urban, she was going to have to tell Urban,” Courtney Smith said in a comment. “I said ‘that’s fine. You should tell Urban. We can’t have somebody like this coaching young men.’”

Zach Smith was arrested for battery of Courtney Smith in 2009. At the time, Smith was an assistant coach to Urban Meyer at the University of Florida. Meyer allegedly reported that incident to his University of Florida supervisors. Courtney Smith ultimately decided to not press charges against Zachary in that case.

Asked recently about his knowledge of the abuse, Meyer claimed that he didn’t know anything. “I was never told about anything,” Meyer said. “Never anything came to light, never had a conversation about it. So I know nothing about it.”

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