Ohio University makes decision on Brian Smith

Brian Smith barely completed his first full regular season as Ohio University's head football coach before he was suspended amidst an internal investigation.

Smith will not see additional time atop the Bobcats program.

Ohio University officials announced Wednesday, after it first announced Smith was being suspended and probed on Dec. 1, that Smith has been permanently relieved of his coaching duties with the school after he earlier was placed on indefinite suspension.

The school issued the following statement:

"Today, Ohio University terminated the contract of Head Football Coach Brian Smith for cause," it read. "The termination follows an administrative review of allegations that Smith violated the terms of his employment agreement by engaging in serious professional misconduct and participating in activities that reflect unfavorably on the University."

With its statement that Smith engaged in "serious professional misconduct" and that he participated "in activities that reflect unfavorably" on Ohio University, school officials are setting the stage that Smith has been fired with cause and therefore will not be owed any buyout money on the remainder of his contract.

Smith was hired a year ago as replacement to Tim Albin after Albin guided a Mid-American Conference championship-run and then departed for the head coaching job at Charlotte. Ohio University award Smith a five-year contract at the time that was scheduled to run through the 2029 season and had a guaranteed value of more than $4 million.

John Hauser was earlier named the interim coach for the Ohio University program. The Bobcats, who compiled an 8-4 regular-season mark in Smith's lone season and knocked off Big 12 Conference program West Virginia in Week 2, are scheduled to face UNLV in the Frisco Bowl with Hauser at the helm next week.

The school released added this final statement, "A search for a permanent head coach for Ohio football will begin immediately."

Hauser was a finalist for the job a year ago and has had strong support within the program. The veteran defensive coordinator has deep Ohio roots and has spent almost the entirety of his two-decade coaching career in the Midwest.

He's been on the Ohio Bobcats staff the past four years after he was hired away from Chuck Martin's Miami (Ohio) program. Initially brought in to coach safeties, Hauser was promoted to defensive passing game coordinator and then elevated to run the defense earlier this decade.

Ohio allowed opponents to score just less than 23 points per game this season and allowed an average of 358 yards per game.