Ohio State expects its investigation of football coach Urban Meyer to be completed within 14 days, the university announced in its latest statement on the investigation Sunday night.
Per the statement, the newly convened independent working group met late last week and appointed former Ohio Speaker of the House Jo Ann Davidson to serve as chair of the working group.
The working group will oversee an investigative team led by Mary Jo White, former chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, who is now a senior chair with the national law firm Debevoise & Plimpton and is also a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. White also served on the NFL's outside advisory panel for the league's investigation last year into former Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott (h/t Bill Rabinowitz of The Columbus Dispatch), and led the league's investigations into former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson and the New Orleans Saints' "Bountygate" scandal.
Any decisions based on the findings of the investigation will be made by university president Michael Drake in consultation with the Board of Trustees, according to the statement.
“Ohio State is committed to a thorough and complete investigation,” Davidson said in the statement. “We look forward to sharing the results of this investigation and any action the university may take.”
Meyer is currently on paid administrative leave while the investigation looks into what he knew about domestic abuse allegations against former wide receivers coach Zach Smith and how he handled those allegations.
Here's the full text of Ohio State's Sunday evening statement:
Statement from The Ohio State University
A newly convened, independent working group – formed by the university's Board of Trustees to direct the investigation involving Urban Meyer – met late last week, appointed a chair, and engaged an investigative firm.
Former Ohio House Speaker Jo Ann Davidson will serve as chair of the working group, which includes former acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Craig Morford, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio Carter Stewart and current university trustees Alex Fischer, Janet Porter and Alex Shumate.
The group was formed to direct the work of the investigative team and be available to provide consultation and advice, and to assist with communications to the full board on the matter.
Decisions about actions, based on the findings of the investigation, will be made by the president of the university in consultation with the Board of Trustees.
Former Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission Mary Jo White will lead the investigative team. White is a senior chair with the national law firm Debevoise & Polimpton and is a former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
“Ohio State is committed to a thorough and complete investigation,” Davidson said. “We look forward to sharing the results of this investigation and any action the university may take.”
The investigation is expected to be completed within 14 days.
