Months after his firing, former Ohio head coach Brian Smith filed a lawsuit against the university for wrongful termination and breach of his contract.
Both Brian Smith and Ohio University had an eventful year in 2025. Smith was at the helm of the football program through the conclusion of the Bobcats regular season, but behind the scenes, Smith and the university were about to meet head-on. Throughout the season, Smith had been in a relationship with an Ohio student, which ended in November, according to his lawyer Rex Elliott.
Following the end of the relationship, Smith was then reprimanded for alcohol use in his office. Furthermore, he was also accused of being intoxicated in public at an event in which he represented the university. Smith was placed on immediate administrative leave Dec 1.
On Dec 12, OU President Lori Stewart-Gonzalez informed Smith of the university’s intent to fire him. In a letter to Smith and Elliott, she cited “extramarital affairs, including one with an undergraduate student.”
On Dec 17, he was fired for cause, with the school citing both the student-relationship and alcohol-use as grounds for termination. Smith and Elliott argued these claims, but the firing stood, and this situation went quiet until earlier today.
Smith filed a lawsuit challenging his firing, both a breach of his contract and wrongful termination by Ohio. Smith argues that the university rushed to judgment and chose itself over honoring his contract, which he signed through 2029, and was worth $2.5 million over the remainder of his time in Athens.
Smith’s lawsuit claims that his relationship was consensual, and Ohio has no university policy against this, as well as claiming the alleged alcohol he consumed was alongside fellow coaches and the alcohol itself was a gift from Stewart-Gonzalez’s husband. It also claims that the accusation of his public intoxication was false.
Smith and Elliott believe that the university defined this offense as a corrective measure toward the future, and not one that could result in termination. As a result, Smith believes he is entitled to the money left in his contract, as this firing has done detrimental things to his future as a coach.
"As the university stated in December 2025, Brian Smith's termination for cause was based on violations of the established terms within his employment agreement,“ the university said in its statement. "This lawsuit is unfounded, and the university will strongly defend itself in court. Consistent with its longstanding practice, the university declines to comment further on pending litigation."
