After an extensive investigation of Urban Meyer, the Ohio State University Board of Trustees and President Michael Drake have announced he will remain the head football coach, but be suspended for the first three games of the season.
Meyer had protested the suspension for most of the day, but finally agreed to it after Drake insisted.
“We made this decision today based on the facts, and what we value as a university,” said Drake. “I sincerely apologize to the university for the situation we find ourselves today.”
Drake also announced Meyer will be unpaid during his suspension.
“I’m fully aware I’m responsible for this situation, and I apologize to Buckeye Nation,” said Meyer. “I should have demanded more from Zach Smith and recognized the red flags. I should have done more and I apologize for that. The suspensions are tough, but I accept them.”
Athletic Director Gene Smith is also suspended without pay from August 31 to September 16.
“I fully support the findings in the report, and I understand I could have done a better job in this particular instance,” said Smith.
Meyer will miss coaching the Sept. 1 home opener against Oregon State. He will also miss the home game against Rutgers on Sept. 8 and the away game against TCU on Sept. 15.
Ohio State’s board of trustees started deliberating at 9 am this morning the findings of a two-week investigation into allegations that football coach Urban Meyer and others mishandled domestic assault accusations made against a former assistant coach.
The university hired a special working group to direct the investigation, which has included interviews with Meyer, athletic director Gene Smith and others at the school.
Ohio State placed Meyer on paid administrative leave Aug. 1 shortly after Courtney Smith, Zach Smith’s ex-wife, said in an interview with Stadium that she believed Meyer and others at the football program knew that her ex-husband was abusing her in 2015 and failed to do anything to stop it.
Meyer fired Zach Smith on July 23 after a pattern of past allegations of abuse came to light in a report by college football reporter Brett McMurphy. Meyer initially said he was previously unaware of any domestic issues between the Smiths that occurred during the time that Zach Smith was a coach at Ohio State. Meyer backtracked shortly after being placed on leave, saying instead that he misspoke when first answering questions about Smith and that he followed proper protocol in reporting an incident in 2015.
Meyer is one of the highest profile coaches in college football, earning $7.5 million per year. He is 73-8 since taking over in Columbus. The Buckeyes have won at least 11 games in each of the six seasons, claiming two B1G titles and a national championship in 2014.
The Buckeyes open the football season a week from Saturday against Oregon State at home.