Ohio State fires WR coach after past domestic violence arrests make news

Ohio State fired wide receivers coach and recruiting coordinator Zach Smith on Monday after his arrests for domestic violence in 2009 and 2015 were reported earlier in the day.

His ex-wife, Courtney Smith, filed a domestic violence civil protection order against him Friday, college football insider Brett McMurphy initially reported.

She filed the order after Zach was charged with criminal trespassing for dropping off their son at Courtney's house instead of at a predetermined public place, violating an earlier warning.

The report concerning the protection order brought up his June 2009 arrest for aggravated battery on a pregnant person. Courtney was 8-to-10 weeks pregnant at the time of the arrest, and Zach was a Florida assistant under current Buckeyes coach Urban Meyer. She decided not to press charges.

Several hours later, McMurphy reported that Zach had also been arrested in October 2015 on felony counts of domestic violence and felonious assault. By then, he worked for Meyer at Ohio State. That case remains unresolved.

In the police report from that arrest, Courtney states that "she has been a victim of sustained physical abuse by (Zach Smith)."

The couple divorced in September 2016.

Zach is the grandson of former Buckeyes coach Earle Bruce.