On Dec. 1, 2025, Ohio athletics announced defensive coordinator John Hauser was named the interim head coach of the Ohio football team after head coach Brian Smith was put on leave.
The announcement came out of nowhere as Smith just finished his first season at the helm of the Bobcats after leading them to a solid 8-4 record while coming just short of a MAC title game appearance.
The position with Ohio was Smith’s first as a head coach, and he seemed primed to continue the success Ohio has enjoyed with past coaches Tim Albin and Frank Solich at the helm.
That all came to a crashing halt with the Dec. 1 press release, and the weeks after led to the firing of Smith.
A complete timeline of events that led to the firing of Brian Smith is below.
Tuesday, July 29: Divorce proceedings begin between Liane and Brian Smith
A complaint for divorce was filed by Liane Smith’s lawyer, Robert K. Toy, beginning the divorce between the two parties. The process did not end until near the end of 2025.
August 2025: Brian Smith begins a relationship with an undergraduate student
In Ohio University President Lori Stewart Gonzalez’s letter to Brian Smith and his lawyer, Rex Elliott, she said Brian Smith participated in “extramarital affairs, one with an undergrad student.”
In Elliott’s response letter, he stated Brian Smith dated the student for nearly four months before he ended the relationship in early November, midway through conference play in the team’s schedule.
It is unclear when exactly the relationship started, but using the timeframe given by Elliott, we know it began sometime in August after Brian Smith met her at an unnamed establishment in Athens.
November 2025: Brian Smith ends the relationship with the student and is reprimanded for alcohol use
November was a busy month in this saga, and it is the final month Brian Smith was the head coach of Ohio. The month had its highlights, like Ohio’s wins over Miami and Buffalo on the field, but it was off the field where the real lowlights occurred for Brian Smith.
Brian Smith broke off the relationship with the student in early November, before he was reprimanded for his alcohol use in his office.
It was in late November that the reprimand occurred, according to Elliott. Brian Smith was accused of drinking in his office after home victories with fellow coaches and staffers. He was also accused of having been intoxicated while making an appearance at a public event while representing the university as the head coach.
Monday, Dec. 1: Brian Smith is placed on leave, Hauser named interim head coach
The bombshell news of Hauser’s promotion to interim head coach was announced in a release by Ohio Athletics at 5:19 p.m. Dec. 1. Ohio Athletics declined to give any further information on the situation after the release was made public.
Friday, Dec. 12: President Gonzalez sends a notice of intent to terminate employment to Brian Smith and Elliott
Gonzalez and the higher-ups at Ohio University made the decision to fire Brian Smith for cause Dec. 12, listing his relationship with a student and alcohol use as grounds for firing.
In the letter, Gonzalez gave Elliott four days to respond with a phone call or letter to be heard.
Tuesday, Dec. 16: Elliott responds to Gonzalez
Besides rebutting the claims made by Gonzalez that were used to fire Brian Smith for cause, Elliott pleads with Ohio to find a resolution to the situation that could result in Brian Smith being reinstated, or that protects Brian Smith and the university from “undue harm.”
Wednesday, Dec. 17: Ohio fires Brian Smith for cause
Ohio Athletics released its final statement on Brian Smith, firing him for cause. The release from the university says it was based on allegations that Brian Smith engaged in “serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the university.”
Tuesday, Dec. 23: Ohio defeats UNLV in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl with John Hauser as interim head coach
Despite all of the noise around Brian Smith’s firing and the program, Ohio was able to pull off an upset on Mountain West runner-up UNLV in the Scooter’s Coffee Frisco Bowl by a final score of 17-10.
Hauser’s defensive unit shone in the game, holding one of the country's best offenses to just 10 points in the game. After the game, safety and team captain DJ Walker, along with other members of the Ohio secondary, chanted “hire Hauser” at ESPN cameras during the on-field post game interview with Hauser.
Friday, Dec. 26: Hauser officially named Ohio’s permanent head coach
Hauser received a late holiday present as it was officially announced he had been hired as the permanent head coach of the Bobcats the day after Christmas.
