Fired Ohio University Football Coach Brian Smith Allegedly Had an Affair With a Student, According to His Termination Notice From the School

What a holiday season it's been for midwest college football coaches allegedly having extramarital affairs with university students and staff. Sherrone Moore got canned at Michigan last week after reportedly having a relationship with a football staffer and now Ohio University coach Brian Smith has been terminated for cause for allegedly having an affair with an undergraduate student — as just one of apparently several, according to the university's letter.

The initial word yesterday on why Smith was fired was because he had kept and consumed alcohol in his office, which just didn't seem like enough to terminate someone for cause unless there was something else going on. Well, now we know.

Smith's lawyer claims the relationship did not constitute an affair because Smith and his wife were already separated and also says the university does not have a policy precluding an employee from dating a student.

Being an FBS head football coach is an incredible life as long as you don't screw it up. You have some long days at the office and have to be recruiting constantly, but you're compensated very handsomely. And even if you suck, your school has to pay you to get fired as long as you just don't do something incomprehensibly stupid to allow yourself to be terminated for cause. Having sex with a student or woman on your staff would fall into that category.

Let this be a lesson to any coaches out there who may be engaging in similar behavior to that which Moore and Smith are alleged to have been. Tighten it up, fellas. They will send your ass packing.