Ohio St. Removes Player, Coach Media Availability Amid Urban Meyer Investigation

Ohio State has removed players and coaches from all scheduled media availability "until further notice" as it investigates Urban Meyer's knowledge and handling of 2015 domestic violence allegations against former wide receivers coach Zach Smith. 

ESPN's Adam Rittenberg provided the notification from the school. Ohio State says further information will be made available Monday.

Zach Smith was fired July 23 after his wife Courtney Smith filed a restraining order against him on behalf of herself and their children. Courtney Smith revealed to Brett McMurphy that she told Shelley Meyer about a pattern of abuse from her husband, which included photographs from a 2015 incident. 

"All the (coaches) wives knew," Courtney Smith said. "They all did. Every single one."

In an interview with WatchStadium, Courtney said Shelley Meyer said she would inform Urban of the abuse. Courtney Smith added that she never confirmed Shelley told Urban of the 2015 incident. Zach Smith remained on the Buckeyes coaching staff, and no police report was filed.

Courtney Smith filed for divorce in 2016. 

Meyer is currently on paid administrative leave while Ohio State investigates what the coach knew and when. He told reporters at Big Ten media day that he had no prior knowledge of the 2015 incident until last month. He previously reported Smith to the University of Florida when there was an incident in 2009, though Smith remained on Meyer's staff.

"We found out what happened according to both parties, we met with them. There were no charges. Everything was dropped," Meyer told reporters. "It was a very young couple and I saw a very talented young coach and we moved forward."