Report: Zach Smith to meet with Ohio State investigators

Looks like those hoping Ohio State's investigation of Urban Meyer might be done Monday will be disappointed.

Zach Smith, the former OSU receivers coach who was fired July 23 after being charged with criminal trespassing and hit with a domestic violence protection order by his ex-wife, told The Columbus Dispatch he expects to speak with investigators from an independent working group early next week.

Smith said his meeting will probably take place Monday or Tuesday. He declined further comment.

Smith's attorney, Bradley Koffel, told The Dispatch that Smith will answer all questions he is asked. He also indicated that Smith will request to get his job back. 

Ohio State announced last Sunday (August 5) it hoped to need no more than 14 days to finish its investigation into how Meyer (and others in the athletics department) handled allegations Smith abused his then-wife, Courtney Smith, in 2015.

Meyer has been on leave since August 1, two days before the Buckeyes began preseason practice.

>>RELATED: What is Meyer allowed to do while on leave?

Also Saturday: Texas coach Tom Herman clarified a report by author Jeff Snook that he helped pay Courtney Smith’s legal bills and denied he tipped reporter Brett McMurphy about allegations Zach Smith had abused her.

McMurphy was the first to report Zach Smith was accused of domestic violence against Courtney in 2009 when the couple lived in Florida and in 2015 when they were living in Central Ohio suburb.

Herman was an assistant coach at Ohio State from 2012-14 before becoming the head coach at Houston. He is in his second season as head coach at Texas.

McMurphy denied Herman was his source, and Snook also amended his initial report to include a denial from Herman’s wife, Michelle.

She called the accusation “BS” and said, “We had no reason good enough to do that to Shelley [Meyer, Urban’s wife] or Urban.”

 

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