Update: Brad Koffel, the attorney for ex-Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith, issued a statement to ESPN on his client's behalf.
"Zach Smith wants to be as transparent and honest as possible but it is not going to be done today through the media. It will only be after he and his ex-wife are sworn in to testify. Once he gets his chance to tell his side of events, don't be surprised when it is corroborated by every police who ever responded to Ms. Smith's calls."
There has still been no comment from Ohio State or coach Urban Meyer.
Original story
When asked at this year's Big Ten Media Days, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer said he was unaware of a 2015 domestic violence incident involving former Buckeyes wide receiver Zach Smith and his now ex-wife, Courtney. Specifically, Meyer told reporters at the event in Chicago that he was only informed of the situation right before his appearance.
"I got a text last night that something happened in 2015, and there was nothing," Meyer told reporters, adding, "I don't know who creates a story like that."
However, Brett McMurphy reported Wednesday -- through a string of interviews and text messages he uncovered -- that Meyer did know about the 2015 incident in which Smith was arrested for felonious assault and domestic violence of his then-wife.
McMurphy's entire report is obviously worth reading, but the pertinent information includes the following ...
Courtney Smith's text messages with Meyer's wife, Shelley, who at one point during a 2015 exchange said, "I am with you! A lot of women stay hoping it will get better. I don't blame you! But just want u to be safe. Do you have a restraining order? He scares me." Courtney added that Shelley was a "frequent texter."
Courtney's communication with wives of other Ohio State assistants and staffers. McMurphy writes that those wives "and a number of Ohio State assistant coaches were aware of Smith's domestic violence issues." Speaking with McMurphy, Courtney said, "All the [coaches] wives knew. They all did. Every single one."
A change in the police report for the domestic violence incident on Oct. 26, 2015. Per the Powell Police report, a box was checked indicating Zach Smith had been arrested. However, in a revised report, that arrest box was no longer checked. The PPD told McMurphy "The terminology used by the Police Department was different in the original report (dated 10/26/2015) and inconsistent with what actually occurred."
Courtney telling McMurphy the following: "Zach once told me, if he ever got fired and this all comes out: 'I'll take everyone at Ohio State down with me.'"
Perhaps the most damning piece of information from McMurphy's report is an exchange between Courtney and Lindsey Voltolini in the weeks following the 2015 incident. Lindsey's husband Brian Voltolini is "considered one of Meyer's most loyal staff members," according to McMurphy.
Courtney: "[Zach's] trying to make me look crazy bc that's what Shelley is saying [he's doing]"
Lindsey: "[Urban] just said [Zach] denied everything"
Courtney: "I hope urban is smarter than that"
Lindsey: "[Urban] doesn't know what to think"
Courtney: "I don't really care. Ya know"
Lindsey: "Yeah, don't worry about urb"
Meyer said he was aware of a domestic violence incident involving Zach Smith in 2009 when the latter was an assistant at Florida. According to documents, Smith had an altercation with his wife, who was three months pregnant at the time.
Meyer told reporters in Chicago, "As I do any time, and I imagine most coaches or people in leadership positions, when you receive a phone call, first thing you do is tell your boss. Let the experts do their jobs. We're certainly not going to investigate. It came back to me that what was reported wasn't what actually happened. So Shelley and I actually both got involved with the relationship with that family, and provided counseling, and wanted to help them moving forward."
Zach was ultimately not charged in the incident, though per Courtney, two of Meyer's closest friends -- Hiram de Fries, who is Meyer's "life coach", and Earle Bruce, Zach's grandfather -- asked her to drop charges of aggravated battery of a pregnant victim.
Moreover, Cleveland.com reports that the Powell police filed nine incident reports between Jan. 1, 2012, and July 26, 2018, involving domestic issues between Zach and Courtney Smith. Those include multiple custody disputes, the aforementioned allegation from Oct. 2015, and a 2017 incident in which neighbors saw Smith looking through the windows of his ex-wife's home and banging on her door at 1:30 a.m.
Smith was fired right before Big Ten Media Days and was replaced on an interim basis by former Buckeyes wideout Brian Hartline. Meyer said the decision was a "tough call" but added that "it was in the best interest of our team." He did not elaborate when asked if the media reports of Smith's past influenced the decision.
"I'm not going to get into that. A decision was made," Meyer said. "The details I'm obligated to give, I gave. The decision was made, it's time to move forward."
One of Meyer's core values is "treat women with respect."
With the latest report from McMurphy coming to light, the focus will now be squarely on Meyer to further explain what he did or did not know about Smith's string of domestic violence issues. As of yet, Ohio State has not commented publicly on the report.
Michael Conroy/Associated Press
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:
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.
Here’s the timeline of the troubling scandal unfolding at Ohio State football and here’s why head coach Urban Meyer’s tenure with the Buckeyes and coaching career in general are, and should be, in such precarious positions.
In 2015, Courtney Smith, the then-wife of then-Ohio State assistant football coach Zach Smith, alleges she was physically attacked by her then-husband. She has gruesome and heartbreaking photos to back it up, part of a lengthy abusive relationship, which includes a 2009 arrest of Zach Smith for domestic abuse when he worked for Urban Meyer at the University of Florida.
Despite that 2009 arrest, which did not result in a conviction, Meyer again hired Smith when Meyer became the head coach at OSU.
“We found out what happened, coordinated through both parties, met with them,” Meyer said of the 2009 incident. “There were no charges, everything was dropped. It was a very young couple, and I saw a very talented coach and we moved forward.”
Giving Zach Smith a second (or who knows how high the number) chance was a major personnel risk and, considering the abuse allegedly didn’t stop, a terrible call by Meyer.
Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer autographs a hat at the Big Ten Conference NCAA college football media days in Chicago. (AP)
Last week, Meyer claimed he knew nothing of the 2015 incident, though. Zach Smith remained on the staff until this summer when he was dismissed from the program, in part because Courtney Smith, who is no longer with Zach Smith, issued a protective order against Zach which brought the issue to light, and in part because the story became public via veteran college football reporter Brett McMurphy.
Still, Meyer threw up his hands and said he couldn’t be responsible for knowing what he didn’t know in 2015.
“I was never told about anything, anything never came to light, never had a conversation about it, so I know nothing about that,” Meyer said last week.
He went as far as to cast aspersions on McMurphy’s reporting.
Story Continues
Well, on Wednesday, McMurphy was back with text messages between Courtney Smith and Shelley Meyer, Urban’s wife and closest confidant.
It is clear that at least Shelley Meyer knew about the 2015 allegation, which included horrific photos of a bloodied and bruised Courtney Smith. It is also clear that Shelley Meyer took the incident serious enough that on at least one occasion she reached out to Courtney Smith to inquire how she was and offer additional support. Shelley Meyer also confirmed she saw the pictures.
“I am with you!” Shelley Meyer texted. “A lot of women stay hoping it will get better. I don’t blame you! But just want u to be safe. Do you have a restraining order? He scares me.”
“Restraining orders don’t do anything in Ohio,” Courtney Smith texted back. “I tried to get protection order which is what started this whole investigation. And that should go through soon finally. It’s hard [because] you have to prove immediate danger. Legal system is tough. Basically, you have to prove he will kill u to get protective order.”
“Geesh! Even [with] the pics?” Shelley Meyer texted. “Didn’t law enforcement come to your place ever??”
It went on from there. Courtney Smith said numerous wives on the Ohio State staff knew of the 2015 incident where Courtney claimed Zach shoved her against a wall and strangled her all while their then 5-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter were in the room. Police were called but the incident did not progress to any arrests.
Courtney Smith, in an interview with Stadium, said she also spoke to Shelley Meyer about it.
“I told Shelley,” Courtney said. “I sent her some pictures. I spoke to her on the phone. She said she was going to have to tell Urban. I said, ‘That’s fine. You should tell Urban. You can’t have someone like this coaching young men.’ ”
Head coach Urban Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes walks off the field alongside his wife Shelley after his team won 45-24 against the Oklahoma Sooners at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Norman, Oklahoma. (Getty)
At this point, the only way for Urban Meyer to claim he knew “nothing” about that is to believe that Shelley did not inform him of this. The two are remarkably close and Urban Meyer has, for years, publicly stated how Shelley is essentially part of his coaching staff and plays a role in managing people, players and families.
If Shelley Meyer didn’t tell Urban though, then the question is why? How could a woman claim Zach Smith “scares her” and offer sympathy for his alleged abuse victim but then not care enough to mention it to Urban Meyer, thus continuing to allow Zach Smith to coach and mentor Buckeyes football players?
It’s why the concept of Shelley saying nothing to Urban is, while possible, so improbable. Shelley Meyer is a strong woman. She is also a registered nurse and an instructor at Ohio State’s College of Nursing and thus is bound by Title IX statutes to report abuse. Urban Meyer, as a coach, is also mandated to report it.
If Urban Meyer knew anything at all about the 2015 incident, then he wasn’t just employing and covering up for an alleged violent abuser. Even last week he was still lying about it.
The first part is enough to question the judgment of the coach, who particularly during his time at Florida recruited and coached numerous troubled players, most notably tight end Aaron Hernandez. That he would still be untruthful and covering up a week ago makes it clear nothing has changed with him.
There would be no way he could remain in his job.
For Urban Meyer, this is bad decisions piled upon bad decisions. Zach Smith was a walk-on for Meyer at his first head coaching job at Bowling Green. He clearly had a soft spot for him. Why is the question. There are thousands of decent and law-abiding coaches who would love to work at Ohio State. The school and its storied football program deserve far better than this, something Urban Meyer at least pays lip service.
“It’s the Ohio State University, it’s bigger than all of us,” Urban said last week. “So you have to do what’s right by them.”
Urban Meyer, Shelley Meyer and Ohio State have yet to comment on the new allegations. Urban and athletic director Gene Smith were meeting as of early Wednesday afternoon.
The explanation better be substantial and exceedingly believable. Even then, it might not be enough.
The days of taking Urban Meyer’s word for much of anything are long past.
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Ohio State fired receivers coach Zach Smith on July 23, after multiple domestic violations against Smith came to public light. Since then, more revelations have led to Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer and athletic director Gene Smith meeting on August 1 about the issue, Yahoo! Sports reported.
Here’s what we know about this story.
Courtney Smith, the assistant coach’s ex-wife, has accused him since 2009 of repeated domestic violence.
Brett McMurphy was first to report on the incident in 2009, while Smith worked for Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer as a Florida Gators grad assistant:
[Smith] was arrested for aggravated battery on a pregnant victim, according to a Gainesville Police Department report. Courtney Smith was 8-10 weeks pregnant at the time. That alleged assault occurred on June 21, 2009 – the Smith’s one-year wedding anniversary. Courtney Smith, however, ultimately decided not to press charges.
McMurphy later reported:
A few days after Zach’s 2009 arrest, Courtney said two of Meyer’s closest friends – Hiram de Fries and Earle Bruce – asked her to drop the charges. Bruce is Zach Smith’s grandfather, de Fries is Meyer’s “life coach.”
The Columbus Dispatch reported that police twice went to Smith’s wife’s home in late 2015 to investigate reports of domestic abuse:
Two incident reports provided by the Powell police department on Tuesday detailed a visit to Courtney Smith’s home on Oct. 26, 2015, for suspicion of domestic violence and felonious assault. Fourteen days later, police were called to the residence on a complaint of menacing by stalking. In neither case was Zach Smith charged or arrested.
In 2016, the couple divorced.
Cleveland.com reports several other incidents, including her telling police in 2015 that she was being followed by a black SUV and that Zach Smith received a trespassing warning in December 2017 after she told police he’d been outside her house at 1:30 a.m.
The Dispatch reported that police arrested Smith in July 2018:
He was, however, arrested last week on a misdemeanor charge of criminal trespassing dating from a May incident when Smith was dropping one of the couple’s two children at his ex-wife’s apartment.
He’s pled not guilty to that charge. Smith’s lawyer says the fired coach will “tell his side of events” after both Zach and Courtney Smith have been “sworn in to testify.”
Urban Meyer has said “there was nothing” to reports of a 2015 incident.
Meyer commented from a podium at Big Ten Media Days in late July 2018, after he was asked about Smith, who’s the grandson of former Buckeyes coach and Meyer mentor Earle Bruce:
In 2015, I got a text late last night that something happened in 2015, and there was nothing — unless, once again, there’s nothing — once again, I don’t know who creates a story like that.
After those remarks, McMurphy reported that a 2015 incident’s official status has since changed:
On the original Oct. 26, 2015 Powell Police report, a box on the form was checked indicating Zach had been arrested. However, nearly three years later – after I reported the incident last week – the Powell Police released a revised version of the report to the media and the arrest box was no longer checked. “The terminology used by the Police Department was different in the original report (dated 10/26/2015) and inconsistent with what actually occurred,” said Megan Canavan, director of communication for the Powell Police Department.
Meyer also said that in 2009, he let “the experts” investigate, and indicated they said “what was reported wasn’t actually what happened.”
From Meyer’s same Big Ten Media Days comments:
Well, I’m going to address the 2009, because I’ve been asked about that. In 2009, Zach was an intern, uh, a very young couple. As I do many times — as I imagine most coaches or people in leadership positions — you receive a phone call, the first thing you do is tell your boss. Let the experts do their jobs. We’re certainly not going to investigate. It came back to me what was reported wasn’t actually what happened, so Shelley and I both got involved actually — because of our relationship with that family — and advised for counseling and wanted to help as we moved forward.
Courtney Smith says she came forward in 2015 to tell Meyer’s wife, Shelley, and the wives of other OSU coaches.
EXCLUSIVE: Longtime Urban Meyer assistant Zach Smith's ex-wife, Courtney Smith, opens up about reported domestic violence and what she believes Meyer knew. pic.twitter.com/dNWA9x2F4y — Stadium (@WatchStadium) August 1, 2018
She says she told Shelley Meyer of Zach Smith’s domestic abuse. Asked whether Shelley ever confirmed she’d shared the information with Urban, Courtney says, “she did not.”
Text messages said by McMurphy to be between the two women appear to indicate wives of OSU coaches were aware.
Courtney said Shelley Meyer, Urban’s wife of nearly three decades, knew about the abuse that begin in 2009, continued in 2015 and culminated with Zach Smith being served a domestic violence civil protection order last week. Courtney said she and Shelly often discussed Zach’s domestic violence. “Shelly said she was going to have to tell Urban,” Courtney said. “I said: ‘That’s fine, you should tell Urban.’ I know Shelley did everything she could.”
McMurphy’s report also references text messages that he says are from a 2015 conversation on the subject between Courtney Smith and Shelley Meyer, along with photos of wounds suffered by Courtney and a conversation said to include the wife of another longtime Urban staffer, who’s quoted as saying, “[Urban] just said [Zach Smith] denied everything.”
We’ll continue to update this article.
