Former Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in 2013, according to documents obtained by Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade. The charges were later reduced.
According to the report, Smith was pulled over at 2:43 a.m. Feb. 23, 2013 for speeding, driving 67 mph with a 50 mph speed limit.
Smith said he had not had anything to drink, but the officer “observed Smith’s eyes to be red and glassy. There was a strong odor of alcoholic beverage coming from inside the vehicle.”
The officer then administered a field sobriety test and said that Smith had difficulty keeping his head straight during the eye test, resulting in the officer performing it multiple times. Smith also stumbled during the walk and turn test, then also stumbled during the one leg stand test.
Officers then informed Smith they knew he'd been drinking, and Smith admitted to drinking two or three glasses of wine earlier in the evening with his wife. Smith was then arrested and taken to Dublin Justice Center for processing where he refused a breathalyzer.
He was released to his father, Tim Smith, at 4:20 a.m.
On April 16, 2013, Smith pleaded guilty to physical control, a first-degree misdemeanor, in Dublin Mayor’s Court. The OVI charge was amended and the speeding charge dismissed.
As reported by the Toledo Blade, a judge sentenced Smith to a $375 fine, suspended three-day jail term, and license suspension for 180 days.
Per the terms of his Ohio State contract, Smith could have been fired for cause for "use or consumption by Coach of alcoholic beverages, drugs, controlled substances, steroids or other chemicals as to impair his ability to perform his duties hereunder."
Smith's contract also states that he "agrees to represent Ohio State positively in public and private forums and shall not engage in conduct or act in such a manner that reflects adversely on Ohio State or its athletic programs."
According to Ohio State's guidelines for self-disclosure of criminal convictions, Ohio State employees "are required to self-disclose criminal convictions within three business days."
Smith told ESPN's Dan Murphy, however, that the university and its athletic department, including Urban Meyer, were unaware of the 2013 arrest.
"I handled it on my own without involving OSU," Smith told Murphy through his attorney, Brad Koffel, on Monday afternoon.
Smith was fired from Ohio State on July 23 following reported domestic abuse allegations.
