🏈 Urban Meyer suspended 3 games by Ohio State in Zach Smith case

Ohio State's special teams coordinator is out. Matt Zenitz posted on X on Nov. 9, 2026 that Robby Discher is out in that role, with sources telling CBS Sports. In a follow-up post, Zenitz said Discher was in his first season at Ohio State, hired in the offseason after three years at Illinois. The posts read carry no statement from Ohio State or Discher, and no reason for the move.

Staff exits in Columbus are not rare. The last big discipline case came with a paper trail: written findings, named penalties and a pay line. MrMuscles pulled the 2018 file. Here is the scoreboard.

The contract before the case

The Lantern reported that Ohio State hired Meyer in November 2011 at $4M a year for six seasons. CBS Sports reported in April 2015 that an extension through 2020 lifted his pay from $4.9M to $5.8M for that year, averaging $6.5M annually over the remaining six years.

The AP reported that an April 2018 extension added two years, ran the deal through 2022 and set his 2018 salary at $7.6M, with six percent annual raises for the bulk of his compensation. The AP also reported that provisions in the contract allowed Ohio State to fire him with cause for violating university policy.

July 23, 2018: Zach Smith is fired

ESPN reported that Meyer fired Smith on July 23, 2018, after a report by Brett McMurphy detailed allegations by Smith's ex-wife. The AP reported that Smith was fired after an Ohio court granted her a domestic violence protective order. The AP also reported that Smith was charged in May with misdemeanor criminal trespass and pleaded not guilty in July, and that he has never been convicted of any crimes. A message the AP left for Smith's attorney, Brad Koffel, was not immediately returned, the AP said.

Meyer told reporters at Big Ten media days that he knew of a 2009 incident, when Smith was arrested on suspicion of domestic assault at Florida and was not charged. Asked about 2015, he said:

"I was never told about anything and nothing ever came to light."

Urban Meyer at Big Ten media days, as quoted by the AP, Aug. 1, 2018

ESPN reported that Meyer later backtracked, saying he had misspoken and had followed proper protocol in reporting the 2015 incident.

Aug. 1, 2018: paid leave

Ohio State put Meyer on paid administrative leave on Aug. 1 while it investigated, the AP reported. Smith's ex-wife had told Stadium she believed Meyer and others in the program knew about the abuse in 2015, and she provided texts she exchanged that year with Meyer's wife, Shelley. Meyer said in a statement he looked forward to "the resolution of this matter." ESPN reported that he said he was not aware of those text exchanges. Offensive coordinator Ryan Day became acting head coach.

Aug. 22, 2018: the ruling

Ohio State suspended Meyer without pay for the first three games, ESPN reported, and banned him from interacting with the team through Sept. 2. The games he missed were Oregon State, Rutgers and No. 16 TCU. The Spun, citing Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch, reported he could coach during the week after the opener but could not travel with the team for TCU. Ohio State also suspended Gene Smith without pay from Aug. 31 to Sept. 16.

"Although neither Urban Meyer nor Gene Smith condoned or covered up the alleged domestic abuse by Zach Smith, they failed to take sufficient management action relating to Zach Smith's misconduct and retained an Assistant Coach who was not performing as an appropriate role model for OSU student-athletes"

Ohio State statement on the investigation's findings, as quoted by ESPN, Aug. 22, 2018

Lead investigator Mary Jo White said her team conducted more than 40 interviews and reviewed 60,000 emails and 10,000 text messages. ESPN reported that the 23-page findings document says Meyer and associate athletic director Brian Voltolini discussed how to set Meyer's phone to delete texts older than one year. When Meyer handed the phone over, it held none older than a year. ESPN noted that is not an admission of guilt; investigators called it "nonetheless concerning." White said she believes Meyer did not deliberately lie but misrepresented what he knew about 2015.

"I followed my heart and not my head"

Urban Meyer at a news conference, as quoted by ESPN, Aug. 22, 2018

Meyer said his loyalty to mentor Earle Bruce, Smith's grandfather, clouded his judgment, and that he takes full responsibility. Gene Smith said he failed as a leader to alert others about red flags. Smith's ex-wife did not immediately respond to ESPN's calls Wednesday night, ESPN said.

The penalty sheet

After the whistle

Yahoo Sports reported that Day went 3-0 as interim coach during the suspension. On Dec. 4, 2018, cleveland.com reported that Meyer would retire after the Rose Bowl and that Day would take over. Yahoo Sports, citing sources, put Meyer's Ohio State record at 82-9 over seven seasons.

That is the record on the last big staff discipline case at the school: a findings document, a three-game ban and a firing. Today's file is thinner: one post, a sourcing line and no stated reason.