College football is brutal. It’s a world where you can go from being the savior of a program to an absolute pariah in the span of a single Tuesday afternoon. Look at Brian Smith. Not the Brian Smith who just took the defensive coordinator job at Temple—though his rise from Rice is impressive—but the Brian Smith who, until December 2025, was the head coach of the Ohio Bobcats.
The fall was fast.
Basically, by mid-January 2026, Smith went from a rising star with a 9-4 record to a cautionary tale. He was fired for cause by Ohio University after a messy, public investigation into "professional misconduct." Most people just see the headline. They see "fired." But the actual story of what happened with Brian Smith is way more complicated, involving a divorce, a secret relationship with a student, and a complete breakdown of professional boundaries in Athens, Ohio.
The Rapid Rise and Sudden Fall of Brian Smith
Before everything hit the fan, Smith was actually doing a killer job. He spent years bouncing around the West Coast and Hawaii, building a reputation as a brilliant offensive mind. He was the guy who helped turn the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors into a passing juggernaut. When he got to Ohio, first as an assistant and then as the head man in late 2024, it felt like the Bobcats finally had their guy.
He won his first bowl game. He led the team to an 8-4 regular season in 2025. Honestly, the fans were thrilled. Then came December 1st.
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The university put him on leave. No explanation. Just "undetermined period of time." The message boards went wild. Was it a bigger job offer? Was he sick? Nope. It was a letter from President Lori Stewart Gonzalez that eventually spilled the beans.
What Actually Happened in Athens?
According to the university’s termination letter, things started spiraling during the 2025 season. Smith was going through a divorce from his wife, Liane. While that was happening, he allegedly started a relationship with an undergraduate student in August 2025. That’s a massive no-go in the coaching world. Even if it's "legal," it’s a fireable offense at almost every major university because of the power dynamic.
His lawyer, Rex Elliott, tried to argue it was a brief four-month thing that ended in November. But the school didn't care about the timeline. They also hit him with allegations of drinking in his office after home wins and appearing intoxicated at public events.
It’s a classic case of a coach who felt untouchable because the scoreboard looked good.
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Two Different Brian Smiths: A Source of Confusion
If you’re searching for "Brian Smith football coach," you're probably going to get confused. There are two of them currently making moves in the coaching carousel.
- The Offensive Brian Smith: Former Ohio head coach, former Hawaii and Washington State OC. He’s the one who was fired in December 2025.
- The Defensive Brian Smith: Former Rice defensive coordinator who just joined K.C. Keeler’s staff at Temple for the 2025-2026 cycle.
The defensive Smith is actually having a great run. He spent seven seasons at Rice, turning their defense into one of the most disciplined units in the AAC. He was even a Broyles Award nominee in 2024. He’s a UMass guy through and through, having played for Don Brown.
It’s kinda wild how two guys with the same name are on such opposite trajectories right now. One is rebuilding a defense in Philadelphia, while the other is likely in a legal battle with Ohio University over a "for cause" firing.
Why the Brian Smith Firing Matters for College Football
This isn't just about one guy losing his job. It’s about the "evolving landscape" (as ADs love to call it) of accountability. Ten years ago, an 8-4 coach might have gotten a "slap on the wrist" for drinking in the office or a questionable relationship. Not anymore.
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Universities are terrified of liability. The moment Smith’s personal life started bleeding into his professional obligations, the clock started ticking. The Bobcats' move to fire him before their 2025 bowl game (the Frisco Bowl) sent a massive shockwave through the MAC.
The Fallout for the Bobcats
When Smith was ousted, John Hauser took over as interim. It's tough on the players. You sign up to play for a guy who’s an offensive wizard, and suddenly he’s gone because he couldn’t keep his private life private.
- Recruiting hits: It’s almost impossible to keep a class together when your head coach is fired for "misconduct."
- Transfer portal: Players today have no loyalty to a school; they have loyalty to the coach. Expect a mass exodus from Athens.
- Reputation: Ohio worked hard to build a "culture of winning." This scandal puts a massive dent in that.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Situation
A lot of folks think Smith was fired because the team underperformed. That’s just not true. You don't fire a 9-4 coach for wins and losses. You fire them because they became a PR nightmare.
His lawyer’s defense was basically: "Hey, he was going through a divorce and made some mistakes, but he’s still a good coach." That doesn't fly in 2026. The "unprofessional conduct" label is a career-killer. It makes it nearly impossible for him to get another FBS head coaching job anytime soon. He’ll likely have to drop down to a coordinator role or take a "rehab" year as an analyst somewhere, assuming anyone wants to touch the baggage.
Actionable Insights for the Future
If you’re a fan or someone following the coaching world, here is how you should view the Brian Smith situation moving forward:
- Watch the Lawsuits: Smith’s legal team is aggressive. They’ve already signaled that they think the "for cause" firing was bunk. Expect a settlement or a very loud court case regarding his remaining contract.
- Track the "Other" Brian Smith: The Temple DC is the one to watch if you want to see a coach on the rise. If he turns Temple’s defense around, he’ll be a head coaching candidate by 2027.
- The Ohio Rebuild: Keep an eye on the Bobcats' next permanent hire. They need a "culture" guy to wash away the bad taste of the 2025 season.
The story of Brian Smith is basically a lesson in how quickly the floor can fall out from under you. One month you're the MAC Coach of the Year candidate, the next you're a "misconduct" case in a university president’s letter.