FRISCO, Texas — Ohio athletic director Slade Larscheid said Monday he did not know of former head coach Brian Smith’s extramarital relationships when he took over as AD in September.
Smith was fired for cause last week by Ohio’s president, as the school detailed what it described as “affairs” Smith had with an undergraduate student and another woman while separated but not divorced from his wife. The school also alleged Smith was intoxicated during a public appearance. Smith has denied being intoxicated at an event and said the relationships were consensual.
Speaking to The Athletic ahead of Tuesday’s Frisco Bowl matchup against UNLV, Larscheid said he supported the university’s decision and was involved in the process, but that any such issues were not on his radar before accepting the job earlier this season. Larscheid was previously the deputy AD at South Dakota State.
“I was surprised at what came out, but I feel very confident that university leadership acted accordingly, and we’re moving forward,” he said.
Interim head coach John Hauser did not speak directly to the issue at the bowl press conference, only talking about his team and the matchup with UNLV.
“I want to just talk about these guys and what we’re trying to do,” he said. “These guys are set up to have the best four-year run in Bobcat history.”
Larscheid said his coaching search will focus in after Tuesday’s bowl game. A person briefed on the situation said that Hauser and former Oklahoma State quarterbacks coach Kevin Johns are among the leading candidates for the job, confirming ESPN’s initial reporting.
Ohio’s past two head coaches after Frank Solich’s 16-year run have been internal promotions. Tim Albin replaced Solich, and Smith moved up when Albin left for Charlotte last winter. The Bobcats have had just one losing season since 2009.
Smith’s lawyer has said they plan to fight what they claim is wrongful termination. Larscheid said Monday he was the one to inform the staff and the team of the decision to fire Smith. Asked about the abrupt change at a place that hasn’t had much over two decades, Larscheid said the school made the correct decision.
“We’re prepared as a university and administration to make the right decisions and do it in the best interest of the program and the university,” he said.
