The Ohio Bobcats will be the latest team aboard the coaching carousel in 2025, officially parting ways with first-year head coach Brian Smith on Wednesday afternoon.
Smith was hired last December prior
to the postseason following the surprise departure of previous head coach Tim Albin following Ohio’s MAC Championship victory in 2024. Smith led the Bobcats to a 30-27 victory over Jacksonville State, then went 8-4 (6-2 MAC) in his lone season as head coach in 2025, narrowly missing out on an appearance in the MAC Championship Game due to tiebreakers.
Smith’s firing comes after an investigation which took over two weeks, with the administration determining Smith “violated the terms of his employment agreement by engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the university,” per press release.
Smith was initially placed on leave Dec. 1, with no official reason given at the time. Since then, the Bobcats have been ran by defensive coordinator John Hauser, who will lead the team in their bowl game against UNLV at the Friso Bowl in Texas on Dec. 23rd.
Smith’s lawyers have released multiple statements since the firing, stating they do not know what the cause of leave was and that Smith has no allegations or charges against him. Per WOUB Public Media, a divorce proceeding involving Smith is not directly tied to the administrative investigation.
Ohio has already begun the national search for a head coach. This will be the second time in two seasons the university will be doing so after having two coaches over 19 years between Solich and Albin.
This is considered a breaking story, and more will be added as it develops.
