Ex-Ohio State Coach Zach Smith Was Arrested for Drunk Driving in 2013

Former Ohio State wide receivers coach Zach Smith was arrested for operating a vehicle while intoxicated in 2013, police records show.

Kyle Rowland of the Toledo Blade reported Smith was arrested in February 2013 after taking a field sobriety test and refusing a breathalyzer test. He later pleaded the case down to one count of physical control, a misdemeanor, and was sentenced to a three-day suspended jail term. He also received a fine of $375 and had his driver's license suspended for 180 days, although he was "granted limiting driving privileges."

College football reporter Brett McMurphy confirmed the report, noting the judge who heard Smith's plea was a graduate of Ohio State:

After the report regarding his arrest, Smith, through his attorney, Brad Koffel, told Dan Murphy of ESPN that head coach Urban Meyer did not know about the incident.

"I handled it on my own without involving OSU," Smith said via Koffel.

"He never told Coach Meyer nor did Coach Meyer even learn of this [until today most likely]," Koffel said in a text message to Murphy. "Much like the criminal trespass case, Zach chose to deal with it on his own and did not involve the university or athletic department."

Smith was fired in July after his ex-wife, Courtney, filed a domestic violence civil protective order against him on behalf of herself and their children. She publicly came forward with allegations of domestic abuse during their relationship earlier this month, telling McMurphy that Urban Meyer's wife, Shelley, knew of the abuse.

After that report from McMurphy, Ohio State placed Meyer on paid administrative leave Aug. 1 and began investigating what he knew about the allegations. Meyer initially denied any knowledge of the allegations at Big Ten media days, but later released a statement admitting that wasn't completely true.

"My intention was not to say anything inaccurate or misleading," Meyer said in a statement. "However, I was not adequately prepared to discuss these sensitive personnel issues with the media, and I apologize for the way I handled those questions."