Ex-Ohio State assistant football coach Zach Smith arrested at his kids' school for violating protection order requiring him to stay away from his ex-wife following her accusations of domestic abuse that led to his firing in 2018
Former Ohio State assistant coach Zach Smith was arrested at his children's school on Thursday for violating a civil protection order made by his ex-wife
He attempted to pick up his children from school at 3pm, but was not permitted to do so. He then confronted staff and police were ultimately called to the scene
Smith's ex-wife Courtney was at the school at the time of the incident and told police that Smith was not supposed to pick up their children until after 6pm
Police say he was in violation of a civil protection order. Smith was arrested and brought to Delaware County Jail, where he was charged with a misdemeanor
Smith's ex-wife Courtney previously accused him of abuse during their marriage and he was fired in 2018 after being arrested for trespassing at her home
Smith, who denies hitting Courtney, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in October in connection with his July arrest and agreed to a civil protection order
Meyer, who has since retired, was suspended three games by the school because he had been aware of the allegations against Smith and did not fire him
By Alex Raskin Sports News Editor For Dailymail.com
Ex-Ohio State assistant football coach Zach Smith was arrested at his children's school on Thursday for violating a civil protection order made by his ex-wife, who had previously accused him of domestic abuse
Former Ohio State assistant football coach Zach Smith was arrested at his children's school on Thursday for violating a civil protection order made by his ex-wife, who had previously accused him of domestic abuse.
Smith attempted to pick his children up at 3:10pm, but was not permitted to do so, the Delaware County Sheriff's office told Columbus, Ohio station WBNS. Smith then got into a confrontation with school officials and police were called. A deputy arrived and spoke with Smith and witnesses, and Smith was then arrested.
Smith's ex-wife Courtney was at the school at the time of the incident and told police that Smith was not supposed to pick up their children until after 6pm.
Smith was in violation of a civil protection order, according to police. He was arrested and brought to Delaware County Jail, where he was charged with a misdemeanor.
According to a statement from Courtney Smith's attorney, Julia L. Leveridge, and several 911 recordings, the school placed her in a room away from Zach Smith as a protective measure.
'He came up behind me and tried to get into the school before I did,' Courtney Smith said in a 911 call obtained by the Daily Mail. 'He's not allowed to do that and they have him in the principal's office.'
Zach Smith, who denies hitting Courtney, pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in October in connection with his July arrest. He also signed a consent agreement and domestic violence civil protection order, preventing him from having contact with Courtney for three years
Zach Smith was fired in July of 2018 by then-Ohio State coach Urban Meyer when he was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass after a dispute with his ex-wife Courtney, who had previously accused him of domestic abuse. In this picture from November of 2014, Courtney Smith documented injuries she allegedly suffered at the hands of Zach Smith
Courtney Smith then told the 911 operator that her husband did not comply with a court order to remain sober: 'He's court-ordered, he has to do a sober [inaudible] program for his drinking during his parenting time and he has not done that, and so he cannot have the kids.'
Smith has denied ever physically abusing Courtney. However, in October of 2018, he signed a three-year consent agreement domestic violence civil protection order, effectively agreeing to stay away from his ex-wife.
Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer set to retire after... 'Messaging matters': Ohio State football slammed for...
As Courtney Smith explained to the 911 operator, her ex-husband was not being violent, but he was 'screaming' at the principal.
'I can hear him yelling over there,' she said. 'It's horrible.'
STATEMENT FROM JULIA L. LEVERIDGE, COUNSEL FOR COURTNEY SMITH
'On Thursday, May 9, 2019, Zach Smith was arrested after he violated a Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order by following Courtney into their children's school. This was not Mr. Smith's court-ordered parenting time, and the school is not the exchange location. School personnel attempted to protect Courtney by placing her in a room away from Mr. Smith. After entering the elementary school, Mr. Smith was involved in an altercation with school personnel whom initially contacted the police.
'Contrary to statements made by Mr. Smith's attorney as has been reported, Mr. Smith agreed to a 3-year Consent Agreement Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order to stay away from his ex-wife. This Order is to protect Courtney Smith, and she did not agree to any 'mutual' stay-away order. No court has found Courtney in contempt of any court order. Due to recent events, Courtney remains in fear for her safety and the safety and well-being of the parties' children, who are Courtney's primary concern. It is unfortunate that Mr. Smith chose to violate court orders rather than put the parties' children first.'
<!- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v6/us/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html - ->Advertisement
In a separate 911 call, someone who identified herself as a school guidance counselor explained that the court stipulated that Zach Smith is not allowed to have the children before 6:45.
'The agreement that we have from court says that he is not allowed to have them until 6:45,' she explained, 'so we are technically not allowed to release them to him, but he is very insistent with our principal right now - very agitated.
'I'm anticipating we may need some help because he's very agitated.'
The guidance counselor then asked to leave so that she could be with the children when they were released from class.
Smith's attorney, Brad Koffel, released a statement accusing Courtney of violating a court order: 'Same old, same old. Absolutely malicious move by his ex-wife to have Zach arrested at their kids' school when he was there to pick them up. She's in contempt of court for not giving him the kids to him last night which she was supposed to. Just very sad for the children. 100% avoidable by both of them.'
In her own statement, Leveridge disagreed with Koffel's assertion that Courtney Smith was in violation of any court order and insists that the incident resulted from Zach Smith's decision to violate court orders.
'This was not Mr. Smith's court-ordered parenting time, and the school is not the exchange location,' she wrote. 'School personnel attempted to protect Courtney by placing her in a room away from Mr. Smith. After entering the elementary school, Mr. Smith was involved in an altercation with school personnel whom initially contacted the police.
'No court has found Courtney in contempt of any court order,' she continued. 'Due to recent events, Courtney remains in fear for her safety and the safety and well-being of the parties' children, who are Courtney's primary concern. It is unfortunate that Mr. Smith chose to violate court orders rather than put the parties' children first.'
Zach Smith (left) worked under Urban Meyer (right) at the University of Florida before following the decorated coach to Ohio State. Meyer had been aware of previous allegations of domestic abuse against Smith by his then-wife Courtney, but did not fire him until 2018, when Smith was arrested and charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass
Smith was fired in July of 2018 by then-Ohio State coach Urban Meyer when he was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass after a dispute with his ex-wife Courtney.
The arrest led to the revelation that Smith was accused of beating her when he worked as an assistant under Meyer at the University of Florida in 2009, when Courtney was pregnant, and again in 2015, when the couple was living near Columbus.
Zach Smith pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct in October in connection with his July arrest. He also signed a consent agreement and domestic violence civil protection order, preventing him from having contact with Courtney for three years.
Koffel described the agreement as 'mutual.'
Brett McMurphy shared text messages on Twitter that purported to show Smith apologizing for physically abusing Courtney
In Thursday's statement, Leveridge disagreed with that description: 'Contrary to statements made by Mr. Smith's attorney as has been reported, Mr. Smith agreed to a 3-year Consent Agreement Domestic Violence Civil Protection Order to stay away from his ex-wife. This Order is to protect Courtney Smith, and she did not agree to any 'mutual' stay-away order.'
Meyer, who has since retired, was ultimately suspended three games as the school determined that he had been aware of the allegations against Smith, but had decided against firing him.
Courtney alleged her then-husband shoved her against a wall and put his hands around her neck in 2015, one of several alleged domestic incidents involving the couple that came to light after he was fired.
In the days after his firing, WatchStadium.com's Brett McMurphy spoke with Courtney Smith, who claimed she believed that Meyer was aware of the abuse allegations in 2015 because she had told his wife about the incidents in detail, offering text messages to back up her claim.
Following the interview, Zach Smith took dead aim at McMurphy, whom he called a '[straight] scumbag.'
'Hey @Brett_McMurphy - quick few questions... because you're an OUTSTANDING 'journalist,' read one of a series of Tweets that grilled McMurphy on how obtained his information.
McMurphy responded by sharing text messages on Twitter that purported to show Smith apologizing for physically abusing Courtney.
'Think about the past,' read a text allegedly sent from Courtney to Zach Smith. '[Think] back to the cheating the lies and picking me up by my neck strangling me in Punta Cana and at our place in April. The abuse got worse bc u couldn't stand me catching u in ur lies.'
'I know!!!!!' read the alleged response from Smith. 'I'm so sorry!!!!'
At the Big Ten media day on July 25, Meyer told reporters that he was unaware of the 2015 incident, and said he would have fired Smith at the time had he known. He went on to say that firing Smith in July was a 'very tough call.'
After the ensuing outcry over his handling of the matter, Meyer said he knew about the accusations against Smith, but wasn't sure they were true and kept Smith on his staff because no criminal charges were filed. The university cited that lapse in suspending Meyer for the first three games of the season after an investigation.
In an August statement, Meyer insisted he did not lie to the media on July 25, adding that his real misstep was his failure to take 'action sooner against a troubled employee.'
As Meyer later explained, his handling of the situation was clouded by his abiding devotion to the legacy of former Ohio State coach Earle Bruce, Zach's grandfather and an early coaching mentor for Meyer.
Smith played for Meyer at Bowling Green in 2002, when the former was a walk-on. He went on to follow Meyer to Florida, where the head coach would win the first of his three national championships in 2006. After his second title in 2008, Meyer stepped away from football in 2010 before returning to coach the Buckeyes in 2012. He brought along Smith, who would serve as the Buckeye's wide receivers coach.
Meyer's suspension followed a two-week investigation into his handling of the situation. A summary of the investigation concluded that Zach Smith's conduct was repeatedly 'met with reprimands and warnings by Coach Meyer, but never a written report, never an investigation and no disciplinary action until July 23, 2018,' which is when he was fired.
Meyer was admittedly too lenient with now-former assistant coach Zach Smith (left), who is the grandson of Meyer's mentor, former Ohio State head coach Earle Bruce (right)
NOTABLE FINDINGS IN OSU PROBE
In August, Ohio State released a 23-page summary of findings from an independent investigation of coach Urban Meyer's handling of domestic violence allegations against a former Buckeyes assistant coach Zach Smith. Meyer was suspended for the first three games of the season and missed six weeks of pay. (Zach Smith has continued to deny the allegations against him)
Some notable findings:
- Urban Meyer and his wife, Shelley, doubted the veracity of Courtney Smith's allegations of violence and abuse from her ex-husband. Urban Meyer called the Smith situation a 'he said she said' in a text with a former player. He also insisted to investigators he met with Courtney Smith after Zach Smith's 2009 arrest and that she recanted her original story to authorities. Courtney Smith told investigators she never met with Meyer or recanted any allegations.
Meyer of the Ohio State Buckeyes celebrates with his wife Shelley following the Big Ten Championship against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lucas Oil Stadium on December 2, 2017 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Courtney Smith claimed Shelley was well aware of the alleged abuse she was enduring at the hands of her now ex-husband, former Buckeyes assistant Zach Smith
- Meyer, athletic director Gene Smith, who was also suspended without pay for two weeks, and others throughout Ohio State thought it wasn't their place to do anything about allegations against Zach Smith unless law enforcement took more action like making an arrest or filing charges. Investigators called that a widespread misunderstanding of their reporting obligations.
- Investigators were troubled by the fact that after a media report in which Courtney Smith said she told Shelley Meyer in 2015 that Zach Smith assaulted her, Urban Meyer asked a staffer about deleting text messages more than a year old by changing settings on his phone.
- While assessing why Meyer made misleading statements at Big Ten media day when asked about the 2015 incident between Zach Smith and Courtney Smith that was reported to police, investigators said they learned 'Coach Meyer has sometimes had significant memory issues in other situations where he had prior extensive knowledge of events.' Investigators said Meyer has periodically taken medicine that can negatively impair his memory, concentration, and focus.
- The investigation identified 'a pattern of troubling behavior by Zach Smith: promiscuous and embarrassing sexual behavior, drug abuse, truancy, dishonesty, financial irresponsibility, a possible NCAA violation, and a lengthy police investigation into allegations of criminal domestic violence and cybercrimes.'
Zach Smith allegedly ran up significant strip club bills while serving as an assistant
- Zach Smith ran up a big strip club bill in 2014 with a high school coach in Florida and spent $600 in personal funds. Meyer reprimanded Zach Smith but didn't report the issue to compliance officers or the athletic director. Investigators said they told the NCAA about the incident.
- In June 2016 at Meyer's urging, Zach Smith was admitted to a drug treatment facility for addiction to a unspecified stimulant prescription drug, the report said, adding that Gene Smith was never told about it.
- Investigators found that Meyer was determined to not disclose Zach Smith's issues to the media and went too far in his denials when he lied to reporters at Big Ten media days about his knowledge of the 2015 police incident. But the report also found that Meyer 'has sometimes had significant memory issues in other situations where he had prior extensive knowledge of events.' Meyer has taken medicine that can hurt his memory, concentration and focus, the report said.
- The report said Zach Smith's conduct was repeatedly 'met with reprimands and warnings by Coach Meyer, but never a written report, never an investigation and no disciplinary action until July 23, 2018.
Former Ohio State coach Zach Smith arrested after altercation at school | WBNS-10TV Columbus, Ohio | Columbus News, Weather & Sports
Ex-Ohio State assistant football coach Zach Smith arrested at his kids' school