Report: Urban Meyer Knew of Abuse Allegations Against Ohio State Coach in 2015

[Herald Democrat]

Ohio State head football coach Urban Meyer reportedly had
knowledge of domestic abuse allegations against former wide
receivers coach Zach Smith in 2015, according to college
football insider Brett McMurphy.

McMurphy wrote that he obtained text messages sent by Smith's ex-
wife, Courtney Smith, to Meyer's wife and the wives of other
Ohio State coaches.

Per McMurphy, the texts show Meyer knew about the situation, and
Courtney Smith added, "All the [coaches'] wives knew. They all
did. Every single one."

Courtney Smith also spoke to Stadium, discussing what she
believes Meyer knew about the allegations:

Stadium
@WatchStadium
EXCLUSIVE: Longtime Urban Meyer assistant Zach Smith's ex-wife,
Courtney Smith, opens up about reported domestic violence and
what she believes Meyer knew. https://t.co/dNWA9x2F4y

Smith was fired last month after he was charged with criminal
trespassing in relation to dropping his children off at his ex-
wife's home against her wishes.

Courtney Smith's comments conflict with statements made by Meyer
at Big Ten Media Days last month.

According to McMurphy, Meyer said he would have fired Smith in
2015 had he known about the situation: "I was never told about
anything. Never anything came to light, never had a conversation
about it. So I know nothing about it. I asked people back at the
office to call and see what happened, and they came back and
said they know nothing."

With regard to her conversations with Shelley Meyer, Courtney
Smith said, "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."

McMurphy also acquired text messages from 2015 between Courtney
Smith and Lindsey Voltolini, who is the wife of Ohio State
football operations director Brian Voltolini.

In those texts, Voltolini told Courtney Smith that Zach Smith
denied everything during a conversation with Meyer.

Courtney Smith told McMurphy of the events in 2015 that sparked
her text: "He took me and shoved me up against the wall, with
his hands around my neck. Something he did very often. My (then
three-year-old) daughter was clinging to my leg. It obviously
registered with him what he was doing, so he took my (then five-
year-old) son and left. So I called the police."

Zach Smith was never charged with domestic violence in that case.

Along with the texts McMurphy obtained, Courtney Smith provided
him with photos that showed her with bruises and cuts.

Zach Smith served as Meyer's wide receivers coach from 2012
until his firing last month. He previously served on Meyer's
staff at Florida from 2005-2009.

Smith was replaced by former Ohio State wide receiver Brian
Hartline on an interim basis at OSU.

https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2788947-report-urban-meyer-
knew-of-abuse-allegations-against-ohio-state-coach-in-2015